Kathmandu, April 11, 2017: Minister for Youth and Sports Daljit BK Shreepaili has stressed that the upcoming local level elections should establish youth leadership across the nation.
Receiving a memorandum from a delegation of various organisations demanding that the polls be used as an opportunity for youth leadership, the Minister said, “The Nepali politics needs youth leadership for only youth can develop and transform the nation.”
The CPN Maoist Centre leader added, “We should elect at least 50 per cent youth leaders in the upcoming elections.”
Demanding that stakeholders pay a needful attention to youth issues in the context of upcoming local level elections, various youth organisations had submitted the memorandum to Shreepaili today.
The YOUthVoteNepal campaign, a joint initiative of various youth organisations launched to promote youths’ concerns in elections, had held a meeting with Shreepaili today.
The campaigners demanded that youth should be prioritised in candidacy during the upcoming polls. Likewise, they demanded a due prioritisation of youths’ issues including employment and self-employment and more budget allocation in youth-focused programmes in election manifestoes of the party.
Minister pledges for protection of child rights
Meanwhile, the campaigners also submitted a memorandum to Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kumar Khadka today, demanding that the government prevented activities against child rights during the polls.
Receiving the memorandum, the Minister said all necessary steps would be taken for the protection of child rights. He also said the government was sensitive enough about the issues of women.
“Considering nature of the incidents,” he said, “We will take actions, issue instructions and make requests.”
The YOUthVoteNepal campaign was launched to carry out advocacy on youths’ agendas during the upcoming local elections. As many as 13 youth-led organisations are constituents of the campaign; including Yuwalaya, Achel Natya Samuha, Glocal Khabar, Saathi Sanga Manka Kura radio programme, We for Change, Yuwa, YAV Nepal, Sirjansil Samaj Nepal, Youth Initiative, Active Youth Society, Jagriti Child and Youth Concern Nepal and Dynamic Youth Forum.
The campaigners will continue lobbying with other political parties and stakeholders to raise their agendas.
