TOKYO:-  Robin Sherchan, the vice-president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), has announced his candidacy for the post of chairman of the International Coordinating Council (ICC) for the upcoming 2025-27 term.

Sherchan announced his candidacy with the main slogan ‘Strong Organization, Strong Unity: Our Campaign’ at a special ceremony held in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, on Sunday.

While announcing his candidacy with the aim of reaching the leadership position at the 12th World Conference of the Association to be held in Kathmandu on March 14, 15 and 16, Sherchan said that ending divisions within the organization and strengthening it is his main agenda.

Sherchan, who has worked efficiently in various responsibilities of the association, making Japan his home base for the past 15 years, also made his 15-point commitment letter public during the event.

Sherchan acknowledged that the NRNA has been going through a very difficult and challenging time for the past few years. He said that it would be his primary responsibility to reunite the organization. Proposing the concept of ‘One Mind, One Organization’, he resolved to bring all activists and non-resident Nepalis under one roof, ending internal strife and disagreements within the organization once and for all.

The issue of citizenship and voting rights for non-resident Nepalis has received special priority in Sherchan’s action plan. He announced that he would take decisive initiatives to remove the administrative and legal complications seen in the implementation of non-resident Nepali citizenship granted by the constitution. He is committed to effective coordination with the government and the Election Commission, especially to ensure the right of Nepalis living abroad to vote, as per the Supreme Court’s mandate.

Sherchan has raised with special emphasis the issue of equal pensions and rights for former Gurkhas, who have been suffering injustice for nearly 200 years.

He plans to play a pressure-generating and supportive role on behalf of the NRNA to bring the ongoing G2G talks with the UK government to a logical conclusion. He also said that the ‘Labor Desk’ will be made more effective and active for the social security, workplace safety, and rights of workers employed abroad. On the economic agenda, Sherchan aims to create an environment that will include small investors by creating a ‘NRNA Development Fund’ of Rs 25 billion and connect foreign workers through IPOs. He plans to lobby for the necessary legal reforms to attract foreign investment to Nepal and ensure the security of NRNs’ investments.

Sherchan has promised to hold a legislative convention within six months of being elected and make radical changes to the membership distribution and electoral system.

Sherchan has also included in his action plan the issue of providing NRN cards to the Nepali origin community, who have been living in countries including Thailand and Myanmar for generations, and connecting them with the mainstream of Nepal.