Nepal Education Minister Reaches Out to Protesting Doctor

Nepal’s Education and Sports Minister, Sashmit Pokharel, has expressed the government’s willingness to address the demands of Dr Govind KC, who has been on a hunger strike in Dhangadhi since Thursday.

On Friday evening, Minister Pokharel called Dr Amrit Jaisi, a colleague of Dr KC, to initiate talks. However, Dr KC was resting at the time, and Dr Jaisi spoke with the minister instead.

During the phone conversation, Minister Pokharel stated that the government is positive about addressing Dr KC’s demands and urged him to create an environment for dialogue.

‘The minister called me a while ago and said the government is positive about addressing the demands raised by Dr KC,’ Dr Jaisi said. ‘The government is preparing to form a team to hold talks with him, and the secretariat is also studying the matter.’

According to Dr Jaisi, Minister Pokharel had attempted to speak with Dr KC directly over the phone but was unable to do so as Dr KC was resting at the time.

Dr KC’s team has presented a five-point demand, including the approval and operation of a 300-bed hospital at the Sahid Dharath Chand Health Sciences University within the current fiscal year, the resumption of medical education in the current academic session, and the removal of officials who were appointed with vested interests.

Preparations are underway for a phone conversation between Minister Pokharel and Dr KC. Dr KC has been on a hunger strike at the Krishna Temple Dharmashala in Dhangadhi since Thursday.