KATHMANDU: The appointment of Adarsh Shrestha, personal secretary to the Prime Minister, as chairperson of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) has sparked widespread criticism.
Gen-Z activist Rakshya Bam has strongly objected to the decision, calling it a “mockery of ethics and expertise.”
Bam argued that appointing a person without relevant expertise in a sensitive field such as biodiversity and nature conservation could seriously undermine the institution’s credibility and impact wildlife management.
“The National Trust for Nature Conservation is an संस्था dedicated solely to the protection of nature and biodiversity,” she said. “There should be no debate that such a critical institution must be led by someone with relevant knowledge and experience.”
Allegations of favoritism
The trust operates under the patronage of the Prime Minister. Bam accused the Prime Minister of displaying “emotional bias and favoritism” by appointing his own aide instead of a qualified expert.
She warned that such decisions could negatively affect the treatment and conservation of vulnerable, helpless, and injured wildlife.
While acknowledging the government’s achievements in navigating the country through a critical phase, Bam clarified that not all decisions could be supported unconditionally.
“We understand the Prime Minister’s intentions and goodwill,” she said. “But state institutions must be run based on merit and expertise, not on personal closeness or emotional considerations.”
Questions over timing and ethics
Bam also noted that while the personal secretary may have played an important role in the Prime Minister’s success, accepting such a position toward the end of the government’s tenure appears “unnatural and unethical.”
She suggested that Shrestha should reject the appointment to uphold ethical standards.
“Declining this position is his moral responsibility,” Bam stated. “It is also up to him to ensure that the government’s achievements are not overshadowed by controversy at the final stage.”
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