NGO Federation demands reforms and legislation that are supportive of civil society
The NGO Federation of Nepal advocates for policies and structures that safeguard civic rights and freedoms, promoting democracy, social justice, human rights, and development. Significant improvements are recommended in the paper, such as simplifying the CSO registration and renewal procedures and removing the Act pertaining to CSOs from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ purview. The Federation has suggested lowering bureaucratic barriers by making these processes more coordinated and transparent. In order to assist CSOs in their operations, the Federation has also demanded the establishment of an independent and representative Social Development Board. The government is being urged to acknowledge CSOs as non-profits, offer tax exemptions on grants and self-generated income, and ensure transparent community-level utilization of CSR funds.
Arjun Bhattarai, President of the NGO Federation, emphasized in his article that the State must treat CSOs as development partners. He urged the administration to pass laws that are in line with international agreements and the Constitution. In order to guarantee that civil society plays a robust, independent, and respectable role in Nepal’s democratic development, the Federation emphasized the necessity of legal and policy reforms at all governmental levels.
