Govt, loan shark victims prepare to sign agreement today

KATHMANDU: The government and representatives of loan shark victims are preparing to sign a formal agreement today, following a series of negotiations aimed at resolving the long-standing dispute.

The agreement is expected to formalise the verbal understanding reached between the government negotiation team and victims’ representatives during talks held in Simara.

A final round of decisive talks is currently underway at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, where both sides are working to finalise the written agreement.

The two sides had also held extensive discussions at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday, laying the groundwork for the agreement expected to be signed today.

The government negotiation team is led by Pushkar Sapkota, Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Other members include Kali Prasad Parajuli, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Yogendra Prasad Dulal, Director General of the Department of Land Management.

The victims’ negotiation team is coordinated by Awadhesh Kushwaha from Nawalparasi (East). Other members include Manoj Paswan from Siraha, Rijan Ranamagar from Gorkha, Laxmi Ghimire from Bhojpur, Kiran Pariyar from Bardaghat West, and Nirgraj Jaisi from Kailali.

The agreement is expected to pave the way for addressing the concerns of loan shark victims through mutually agreed measures.