Goodweave elects new committee under Ubaraj Bhandari's leadership

Kathmandu: Nepal Goodweave Foundation's 30th annual general meeting and 15th convention has elected a new working committee under the leadership of Ubaraj Bhandari. The new working committee includes Balram Gurung as vice-chairman, Kiran Thapa as general secretary, and Kalpana Timilsina as treasurer. Similarly, the members include Atmaram Chapagain, Shirjana G.C., Chitra Bahadur Basnet, Anju Shrestha and Amir Bhattarai. Senior advocate and founding chairman of Nepal Goodweave Foundation Binod Bahadur Karki presented certificates to the newly formed working committee . Karki, who has also been the advisor of the organization, informed that this organization, started by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi as the Rugmark Foundation, has so far rescued, educated and reunited more than 5,000 child workers in the carpet industry of Nepal. In the program, Chairman Ubaraj Bhandari said that the organization will continue to work for the protection and promotion of child rights by continuing its campaign to make the carpet industry free of child labor. Similarly, General Secretary Kiran Thapa said that the organization has been carrying out programs for the rescue, education, training and rehabilitation of children working as laborers in the carpet industry since its inception and will continue to carry out innovative activities to ensure child rights in the future. The organization's annual social audit was also conducted at a program held in the capital. At the program Chief guest National Human Rights Commission Secretary Murari Prasad Kharel said that Goodweave has worked to ensure child rights and boost the national economy promoting child labour free carpet production so the Human Rights Commission is always ready to coordinate and cooperate with the organization. Social audit expert Santosh Maharjan presented the organization's social audit report. At the program, Bhagwati Sangraula, Acting Director of the Social Welfare Council, Shanta Thapa, Deputy Mayor of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality, Devi Khadka, General Secretary of the Federation of NGOs discussed the contribution of Goodweave foundation for the elimination of child labor and the promotion of child rights in the Nepali carpet industry. A documentary film, 'Dreams revived' was presented at the program. It is about children who were brought to Kathmandu from villages to weave carpets and were rescued by Goodweave after being mistreated by contractors and moneylenders and provided with education and housing. Similarly, Balram Gurung, President of the Nepal Carpet Producers and Exporters Association, Keshar Bahadur Khadka, Felt Yarn Pvt. Ltd., Sabina Kumari Shrestha, Dr. Rupa Munankarmi, President of Working Women Journalists (WWJ) Ramkala Khadka and others who contributed to Goodweave foundation in various fields were honored in the program. Established in 1995, this organization has been active in the campaign to make the child labour free Nepali carpet industry for three decades. It has rescued thousands of child laborers and provided them with education, housing, employment, and family reunion. The organization has been conducting various social activities in collaboration with its international partner Goodweave International. The organization has been operating a transit home, 'Hamro Ghar', providing housing and education facilities to children. Children who complete their Primary education over here are sent to Laboratory School at Kirtipur for their secondary and higher secondary education.