LWF General Secretary meets Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Province 1

LWF General Secretary meets Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Province 1

Biratnagar, 15 September, 2018: The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary, Rev. Dr Martin Junge today met with Hon’ble Hikmat Karki, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Province 1.

Rev. Dr Junge was accompanied by Rev. Dr Philip Lok Oi Peng, Area Secretary for Asia Department for Mission, Dr Prabin Manandhar, Country Director, LWF Nepal, Rev. Joseph Soren, Chairperson, Nepal Evalengical Lutheran Church, Mr Rajendra Raut, Regional Program Coordinator, LWF Nepal, Mr Yagya Gautam, Program Manager LWF Nepal and Ms Aagya Pokharel, Community Service Officer.

In the meeting held in Biratnagar, Hon’ble Minister Karki, extended appreciation to LWF Nepal and encouraged LWF to continue its work in Nepal. He said, “The role played by LWF in the Nepal Earthquake 2015 and Tarai Flood 2017 is commendable. The works of LWF has been recognized by the society and people have accepted it.”

Hon’ble Minister Karki acknowledged the role played by LWF particularly for care and maintenance of Bhutanese Refugees and other ethnic minorities like Musahar and Santhal. He said, “The government is positive for collaboration with LWF and is willing to learn from international experience support and extend partnership.”

Hon’ble Minister Karki informed the General Secretary about the priority areas of the Province 1. He said, “The government is keen to address the issue of landlessness and unplanned settlement and move towards solution in a sustainable manner. We except LWF to cooperate with us in this area.”

Talking to Hon’ble Minister Karki, Rev. Dr Martin Junge committed that LWF is ready to support and the Government of Nepal can count on LWF Nepal and Social Ministry of Church for support.

He said, “We are not planning to leave Nepal. We are planning to make contribution in collaboration and coordination with the government. We don’t want to establish our work without government cooperation.”

Hon’ble Minister Karki also informed that the government is starting a new program named Sagarmatha (Everest) Teenage Club for youth engagement in social work and reducing substance abuses. The club will include teen age studying grade 8 to 12 from private, boarding and community schools. The program will cover over 300,000 student. The theme of the program is “I have to rise”. Minister Karki informed that the government is planning to introduce additional programmes for the youth. Rev. Dr Martin Junge expressed commitment to work in youth programmes to LWF and NELC collaboration with the provincial government.”    

Text by: Kritagya Regmi

Photo By AlbinHillert