25 Lakh Check: Controversial Businessman Makes Education Minister A 'Porter'!

KATHMANDU — In the name of continuing the education of flood-affected students and rebuilding damaged schools, controversial consultancy businessman and co-founder of Grace International, Laxman Paudel (Andrew Paudel), visited the 'Ministry of Education and Sports' and handed over a check of 2.5 million rupees to Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel.

There has always been a universally accepted moral consensus in social or philanthropic work that 'what the right hand gives, the left hand should not know.'

However, for this controversial businessman, the Education Minister's office appeared to be the ideal venue for personal branding and commercial promotion.

The sight of handing over a 2.5 million rupee check while smiling with the minister in front of cameras inside the ministry has raised serious questions in educational and political circles.

The consultancy business is a sensitive sector that falls directly under the regulation and jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Meeting the minister of the regulatory ministry to hand over a check of 2.5 million rupees and taking photos clearly indicates an attempt by the businessman to influence the minister.

On the other hand, the government has always implemented a 'one-window system' for relief and assistance collected during disasters.

There is a clear government rule stating that relief funds collected during disasters must mandatorily be deposited into the 'Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund.'

Was this businessman unaware of this government policy, or was there an intentional attempt to use the minister as a front to serve business interests? The question is grave.

Even if the businessman was ignorant, the Education Minister, who is responsible for enforcing government rules and policies, should have been well aware of her own government's regulations.

What is dismaying is that ignoring the government's own policy, Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel herself forgot the dignity of a regulatory body and became a witness to this publicity stunt.

Minister of Education, if holding checks of 2.5 million rupees from controversial businessmen and smiling in front of cameras is the primary job of the ministry, then your spare time should now be fully utilized. Minister, please stand in the bank line yourself, fill out the bank deposit vouchers with your own hands, and release those vouchers on the Prime Minister's official Facebook page to provide free advertisement for Grace International! With the minister holding the reins of a regulatory ministry eager to act as a 'porter' carrying checks for controversial businessmen to deposit money into bank accounts, the development of the country's education sector will surely soar to new heights!