KATHMANDU — Former President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), Jiba Lamichhane, has emphasized the need to reform the organization to effectively move it forward.

Speaking to Himalaya Khabar on the sidelines of a gathering of diaspora Nepalis in Kathmandu, Lamichhane noted that as the NRNA campaign approaches its 25th anniversary, the organization has experienced various ups and downs. He expressed that to make the institution truly effective today, it must evolve and learn from its past mistakes.

“The organization we envisioned in a small room in Russia has now expanded to 90 countries,” Lamichhane said. “Throughout this journey, individuals with various personal motives have also joined, which inevitably brought fluctuations within the institution.”

Lamichhane reiterated that the core mission of the movement remains: “Once a Nepali, Always a Nepali.” He pointed out that while Nepal’s current constitution does not recognize dual citizenship, it does have a provision for granting NRNA citizenship. “Many people have already acquired NRNA citizenship under this provision,” he explained. “However, diaspora Nepalis are growing frustrated because they are not being granted the practical rights that were promised alongside this citizenship.”

Furthermore, Lamichhane highlighted the growing economic strength of the Nepali diaspora. “As the number of Nepalis living abroad increases, their financial capacity is also on the rise,” he said. “Recent statistics indicate that around 800,000 Nepalis living abroad have the capacity to invest $50,000 USD or more in Nepal. While investment is a personal choice, ultimately, everyone wants to bring their resources back to their homeland.