The government has decided to provide Rs15,000 each to the 2,429 people injured during the Gen Z movement in September. A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved immediate relief of Rs15,000 each to the 2,429 individuals injured during the Gen Z uprising, said Minister for Communication, Information and Technology Jagadish Kharel.

The government had earlier provided relief to the families of those who lost their lives in the uprising. A total of 76 people had died during the nationwide anti-corruption protests. The demonstrations were held on September 8 and 9, but the fatalities occurred over several days, as several injured later succumbed to their wounds.

Likewise, the government has decided to ask President Ramchandra Paudel to issue an ordinance to amend the Nepal Special Services Act, 2042. In the draft ordinance seen by the Post, the government has, for the first time, proposed creating a counter-intelligence mechanism under the National Intelligence Act.

At present, the National or Investigation Department (NID) does not have a dedicated counter-intelligence wing or mechanism, although it has performed similar functions since its inception in 1952. The purpose of a counter-intelligence wing is to protect the agency’s intelligence programmes from infiltration or surveillance by foreign intelligence services.

Once established, the new wing will gather intelligence and conduct activities to prevent espionage, sabotage, assassinations or other intelligence operations conducted by, for, or on behalf of foreign powers, organisations, or persons.

The ordinance aims to replace the existing Nepal Special Service Act 2042 BS, under which the NID was formed, and proposes the formal establishment of a counter-intelligence wing, among other changes in the existing intelligence gathering practices. It lays out legal provisions for surveillance, secret missions, handling informants, evidence collection, interrogation, and verification. Alongside these, provisions related to liability and punishments have also been updated.

“As per the Constitution of Nepal and the spirit of federalism, intelligence services should be expanded, and a mechanism for counter-intelligence shall be set up, although this will definitely add to the country’s economic burden,” says the objective section of the draft ordinance.

The Cabinet meeting also decided to form a committee led by Prakash Jung KC to conduct a study and present recommendations for the restructuring of Nepal Stock Exchange Limited, according to Minister Pokhrel.

The Cabinet has also decided to amend the immigration rules to set a daily trekking fee of $50 per person for foreign nationals visiting the upper Mustang area.

Additionally, the Cabinet has decided to appoint Dr Kalpana Kumari Shrestha as executive director of the Shaheed Dharmabhakta Human Organ Transplant Centre.