The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a high-level committee to investigate the visit visa scam and has also defined the committee's mandates.
Addressing the meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak informed that an investigation committee with nine mandates has been formed.
The Council of Ministers meeting held on Monday night had decided to form the committee under the coordination of former Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, with the joint secretaries of the concerned ministries as members.
Lekhak stated that actions will be taken forward by implementing the report submitted by the committee.
Here are the nine mandates:
- To study, analyze, and factually investigate the facilitation of travel for all purposes, including visit visas, under immigration management, and to prepare immediate and long-term policy, legal, and structural reform action plans to resolve visible problems.
- To review and amend existing laws, regulations, procedures, standards, and other policy and legal provisions related to facilitating travel for individuals going abroad or entering Nepal for all purposes, including visit visas, and to submit drafts if necessary.
- To submit proposals along with suggestions for improving existing structural and human resource management in immigration management.
- To provide suggestions on necessary improvements and arrangements regarding coordination and cooperation among concerned bodies to prevent problems in immigration management and citizens' travel.
- To study international best practices related to immigration management and facilitating citizens' travel and to provide suggestions for implementing suitable practices in Nepal's context.
- To study the problems faced by individuals traveling on visit visas, labor visas, and other visas, as well as those residing illegally abroad, and to provide suggestions on necessary measures to prevent such issues.
- To provide suggestions on making the immigration system technology-friendly, simple, easy, fast, and transparent to ensure effective service delivery.
- To provide suggestions on streamlining the roles of stakeholders involved in foreign travel-related matters.
- To provide suggestions on measures to maintain and securely preserve records related to immigration and travel.
According to the Home Ministry, a seven-member high-level investigation committee led by Shanker Das Bairagi.
The members in the committee include include Joint-Secretary of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Aruna Joshi, Joint-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Ram Krishna Lamichhane, Joint-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maniratna Sharma, Joint-Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security Pradeep Koirala, and Joint-Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Ananda Kafle. Kafle has been assigned the responsibility of member secretary.
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