News

Dhangadhi, March 4, 2025, the first provincial general assembly of the Disaster Preparedness Network (DPNet) Sudurpashchim successfully concluded in Dhangadhi. The event saw the participation of various organizations and individuals engaged in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, climate risk management, and adaptation. The assembly was chaired by Sher Bahadur Basnet, the Chairperson of DPNet's Sudurpashchim Provincial Ad Hoc Committee. The chief guest of the event was DPNet's National president, Dr. Raju Thapa, while former Secretary of the Government of Nepal and disaster management activist Kedar Neupane attended as the special guest. Other notable attendees included DPNet’s General Secretary Suraj Gautam, Deputy General Secretary Harshaman Maharjan, former DPNet President Surya Bahadur Thapa, representative from DCA Dinesh Gurung. Participants were welcomed by Ashok Bikram Jairu, the Executive Director of NNSWA, while the closed session was conducted by Dhanapati Dhungel, the Public Relations and Communication Advisor of FAYA Nepal. In the closed session, DPNet General Secretary Suraj Gautam provided insights into the organizational structure and outlined the key tasks DPNet aims to undertake in the coming days. Similarly, DPNet President Dr. Raju Thapa elaborated on the role and responsibilities of DPNet, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the network's effectiveness.

During the assembly, a consensus was reached on selecting the new leadership team. DPNet General Secretary Harshaman Maharjan informed the participants about the consensus-based selection process, which was unanimously approved. The newly elected leadership of DPNet Sudurpashchim Sher Bahadur Basnet, Executive Director of FAYA Nepal, as President. Dinesh Gurung, Coordinator of DCA, congratulated the newly elected committee and expressed his commitment to supporting DPNet Sudurpashchim’s initiative to establish a disaster management resource center. He highlighted that this initiative would significantly contribute to enhancing disaster resilience in the region.

In his address, newly elected President Sher Bahadur Basnet emphasized the need for strong coordination among stakeholders to implement effective disaster risk management and reduction measures. He announced plans to develop the DPNet Sudurpashchim Provincial Committee into a learning and knowledge-sharing center for disaster management. He further assured that the newly formed committee would work collaboratively with all concerned agencies to make disaster preparedness and response more effective. At the conclusion of the assembly, DPNet’s Central President, Dr. Raju Thapa, handed over a laptop to the newly elected provincial president, Sher Bahadur Basnet, as a contribution from the central office to facilitate the operations of the newly formed provincial committee.