Devendra Paudel urges govt. to ensure safety of Nepali students abroad

KATHMANDU: Devendra Paudel, Secretary of the CPN (Maoist Centre), has called on the government to establish emergency desks within the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the safety and well-being of Nepali students around the world.

Speaking during the emergency session of the House of Representatives on Monday, Paudel raised concerns following the deaths of two Nepali students at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India.

He referred to the recent death of Prisha Shah, which occurred just days after the passing of another Nepali student, Prakriti Lamsal, at the same university. “These incidents are not merely coincidences,” he said, urging the government to investigate the root causes and assess whether the institution poses specific risks to Nepali students.

Paudel stressed that simply stating that an investigation is underway is not enough. “The government must take concrete steps to guarantee the safety of Nepali students globally,” he said, demanding proactive measures.

He also noted the commencement of the Grade 12 examinations across Nepal and highlighted the need to address teachers’ concerns in order to make the examination board more effective.