Nepal Scout Purification Campaign Demands Immediate Reforms

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EDUCAST, The Nepal Scout Purification Campaign has called for urgent reforms within Nepal Scout to eliminate corruption, irregularities, and lack of transparency. The campaign, led by Devdutt Adhikari, was launched to restore the organization’s integrity, which it claims has been compromised due to weak leadership and mismanagement. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Adhikari outlined a four-point demand for reforms and announced a series of protest programs. He emphasized that the movement is supported by youth members, trainers, and well-wishers who want to see Nepal Scout operate with honesty and accountability.

On February 18 (Falgun 6), campaign representatives had submitted a memorandum to the Youth and Sports Minister, who also serves as the Chief Scout, demanding urgent reforms within seven days. The memorandum was also shared with Prime Minister and Nepal Scout’s patron. However, the campaign claims that the government has shown indifference toward addressing their demands. As a result, they have decided to escalate their protests to put further pressure on the authorities.

One of the key issue raised by the campaign is the lack of action against Nepal Scout’s Director, Ram Prasad Bhattarai, who is accused of financial irregularities, workplace harassment, and sexual misconduct. A 10-point complaint has been filed against him, but no investigation has been initiated. The campaign demands a fair and independent inquiry into these allegations and insists that Bhattarai should be suspended until the investigation is completed.

Additionally, the campaign has criticized the Employee Administration Regulations 2081, recently signed by the Chief Scout, for including provisions that demoralize staff. One of the most controversial changes is the reduction of maternity leave benefits, which the campaign argues is unfair to employees. They have demanded that the regulations be thoroughly reviewed by the National Council before implementation.

To push for their demands, the campaign has announced a series of protest programs. A silent sit-in protest will take place in front of Nepal Scout’s headquarters starting March 10 (Falgun 27). If their concerns are not addressed, they plan to escalate the protest into a relay hunger strike from March 14 (Chaitra 1). The campaign has warned that if authorities attempt to disrupt their protests or use force, they will not be responsible for any consequences.

The campaign believes that Nepal Scout’s growing negative reputation in the media is due to leadership failures and lack of transparency. Instead of addressing these issues, the Chief Scout is accused of supporting corrupt practices. The representatives have clarified that their movement is not for personal gain but for the betterment of Nepal Scout. They urge the authorities to take immediate action to restore trust and integrity within the organization.