Kathmandu – On Monday, the government announced those who died in the recent Gen Z uprising and decided to offer cash relief to families.
According to the government’s decision, from now on, the deceased will be called Z clan martyrs.
As many as 72 people died in anti-government protests convened by Gen Z youth last week, and hundreds of people remained hospitalized across the country.
The cabinet meeting on Monday was declared a martyr and Interior Minister Om Prakash Aryal informed the deceased after the meeting. Following tradition, the government will provide Rs 1 million to each family who loses a loved one and another Rs 500,000 to pay for other fees. This is the first cabinet meeting after Sushila Karki was appointed Prime Minister on September 12. Three ministers were also sworn in earlier Monday.
Aryal added that the funeral of the deceased will be held in national honor and observe the mourning day on September 17, with the national flag hanging on the half-mast. The government will ensure that the bodies are transported to the respective family residences of the deceased, and for those in remote areas it will bear the cost of transportation and air travel. He added that investigating the use of force during the Gen Z protests remains his top priority.
Remuneration will be issued through the Ministry of Finance and will be distributed through the respective regional administrative offices.
It was also decided to continue to provide free medical treatment to the injured.
In addition, Nepal police announced that they would provide Rs 1 million to the families of police officers killed during the Gen Z protests. A statement from the Nepal Police Department said that assistance will be funded by deducting salaries in all ranks, including the Inspector General.
A judicial investigation committee will be established to investigate events during the Generation Z movement. Arial said the committee will be headed by a former Supreme Court judge, adding that its complete work has not been determined.
He also announced a “Gen Z Awakening Memorial Park” to commemorate the martyrs of Generation Z and said he was looking for a suitable location
Aryal told reporters that all suggestions forwarded by the former Oli administration in the cabinet were sent back to various ministries.
Earlier in the day, three newly appointed ministers were sworn in and kept confidential during a ceremony at Sheetal Niwas in the presidential office on Monday.
President Ramchandra Paudel swore in to Rameshore Khanal as Minister of Finance Kulman Ghising as Minister of Energy, Water and Irrigation, while Aryal served as Minister of Home Affairs.
Ghising will also lead the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Urban Development, while Aryal is temporarily assigned a portfolio of legal, judicial and parliamentary affairs.
According to the revolutionary spirit of the recent Gen Z movement, new ministers did not waste time when making some important decisions on Monday.
New Finance Minister Khanal has decided to cut down on small projects listed in the current budget, which is expected to save up to Rs 10,000 crore in government spending.
Speaking to the ministry staff after taking up their posts, Minister Kanal said that in view of the need for elections and reconstruction work within six months, resources should be mobilized by filtering out and cutting such projects and plans.
He also formed a three-person working group led by the head of the budget department, suggesting cuts in small projects. The task force will filter existing budget projects and prioritize more important projects and plans.
Minister Khanal said that debris will be removed quickly and the walls will be repainted.
He also noted that the direct focus should be on rebuilding damaged property. Hundreds of public and private property were destroyed and destroyed during violent anti-corruption protests across the country last week. The assessment of the damage has not been conducted.
Similarly, Minister of Energy, Water and Irrigation Kulman Ghising decided to restore excellent dues from factories and businesses that refused to clear their past dues for use of dedicated feeders and trunk lines during the loading and unloading year.
After taking office, instructions on the collection of membership fees were issued fiercely.
Previously, when Ghising was the executive director of the Nepal Electric Power Bureau, he had pushed for the retrieval of these dues from factories and companies that owed NEA billions of rupees.
When the average person faces hours of cuts, these companies are provided with dedicated power supplies.
Green insisted on recovering the money from the defaulting company, which cost him his position under then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who blocked his efforts.
Now, at the helm of the Department of Energy, Greens has brought businesses back long-term overdue payments from their priority.
In addition to the Ministry of Energy, Ghising will also oversee the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Urban Development.
Regular power outages were the norm about eight years ago when exciting first took charge of the NEA, but under his leadership, Nepal was declared free from the burden.
