KATHMANDU, June 15: Taking strong exception to the reaction of a section of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others over the government's proposed integrity policy, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has said that organizations that function in a transparent manner need not worry about measures to regulate the NGOs and INGOs.

Asked by journalists during a regular press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Thursday if the government was curbing the space for the NGO sector , Gyawali said no one needed to be panicked by the integrity policy, and especially if they were working in a professional and transparent manner. “I am surprised to see some people panicking over the proposed integrity policy,” he said.

Gyawali said just as every country has its own priorities, Nepal also has set priorities and expects I/NGOs and development partners to extend their support to these priority areas. “So far they have taught us how to wash our hands . And now if we say we need water, there is no reason for the I/NGOs to panic,” he said.

Arguing that the Nepali people have developed enough awareness already, Gyawali also said that no one is allowed to function arbitrarily just because Nepal is an open and liberal society. “Why such objections when we say we now need support in job creation and infrastructure development. Those who are doing their work with integrity need not worry about the proposed policy measures,” he further said.

The minister said that what they are doing has left a good impression among the Nepali people, who elected them to power. “Our loyalty is to the Nepali people, not to anyone else,” he added.

Tightening the screws on the I/NGOs and NGOs, the government has made it mandatory for them to submit the property details of their office bearers and employees to the authorities concerned for the renewal of their registration

Also, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the district administration offices concerned to allow NGOs to focus only on a particular area and have them compulsorily submit quarterly reports of their activities including financial details.

 
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