Kathmandu — Grace International has submitted its official clarification regarding the controversy that arose after handing over a check of NPR 2.5 million to Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel for students and school reconstruction in flood-affected areas.
The response was made public by the organization following criticism that handing over the check directly at the ministry violated the government's 'one-window system'.
Ajay Malla Thakuri, Sales Head of Grace International Group, clarified that the assistance money was handed over to the Education Minister purely with the objective of ensuring its utilization within the education sector. He stated that the company had no ill intent and that the style of reporting in the news created confusion among the general public.
"We collected funds from our various branches within the country and abroad to prepare this support fund," Thakuri said. "We want to contribute directly to the upliftment of the education sector. We met the Minister and handed over the check solely out of the desire that the collected amount be spent targeting that specific sector."
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However, for relief funds collected during disasters, the government has implemented a 'one-window system' and published the bank account details of the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. Current government policy does not have a separate provision allowing donors to voluntarily specify a sector when depositing money into the relief fund.
Lately, instead of depositing money into official government accounts, a growing trend has emerged where business owners and organizations from various sectors visit ministries to meet ministers, hand over checks, and take photographs.
According to disaster management experts, such activities question the effectiveness of the government's 'one-window system' on one hand, while creating confusion regarding the transparency of relief distribution on the other. Stakeholders emphasized that while the organization expressed goodwill toward the education sector, full compliance with government policy is necessary.
