I am a child of Nepal and India, who was fortunate enough to be selected for a scholarship to study in the UK at the age of 10. After completing my education, including pre-clinical medicine & PhD, I returned to South Asia in 2000 with a mission. I helped set up a new medical school, Kathmandu University Medical School (KUMS),  heading its International Program for international collaboration to gather support for its mission to train healthcare workers to access rural areas of Nepal. After postdoctoral research and training at UCL, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI)- Harvard in 2005 and SGUL in 2007, I established the IBMS in Nepal with support from SGUL Vaccine Institute's Gate's Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative (GCGHI) to conduct biomedical research in immunology of infections and immune disorders, to develop vaccines and immunotherapies.

To reach over 10 million underserved people in Nepal directly, I joined FPAN, a Member Association of the IPPF, as its Director of RMEA in 2008 to provide reproductive health services & promote the rights of those-most vulnerable - the poor, underserved, marginalized & socially excluded women who are often victims of stigma, discrimination, abuse, violence & trafficking. I also served as the Acting Director General for a year before I became the Provost of the World Affairs Academy, which undertakes Global Advocacy to improve health, education & living conditions of the poor. I've worked with refugees from Tibet & Bhutan as part of Amnesty International Medical Group (AIMG) since 1990. I've also worked in partnership with WWF in design & implementation of Biodiversity Conservation Project through Natural Resource Management to prevent Natural Disasters & Climate Change from 2011-16, the advocacy for which I've continued till date. 

Today we face an urgent need to extend this support further. Millions of orphans, homeless individuals from poor families, displaced population such as refugees, especially girls and women are suffering due to lack of basic necessities like shelter, food and healthcare. They are also deprived of education which is crucial for their empowerment. I believe they are true children of God, created by Him just like ourselves; and its all our duty to reach out and serve people who are more disadvantaged than us. 

The World Bank estimates that about half of South Asia's population lives on less than $1.90 per day (World Bank). This staggering figure underlines the urgency required in addressing poverty-related issues in this region. Millions of people have been internally displaced by droughts, flood and other recurrent disasters while refugees such as Tibetans, Bhutanese, Rohingya & others, need rehabilitative support. 

I propose building safe shelters for these vulnerable groups such as orphans, street-children, refugees & displaced people, especially young girls and women who have survived violence or trafficking,  to provide them with food security & other needs. We must ensure their access to quality education along with healthcare services. It is equally important that we provide job training opportunities while promoting gender empowerment within schools and workplaces to stop discrimination and acts of abuse and violence in places of education & employment. This initiative will not only combat stigma but will also help prevent trafficking & sexual exploitation in the region. Furthermore, we will undertake global advocacy campaign for poverty reduction & improved access to health, education and employment for all.

Let us join hands together towards creating an inclusive society and a better, fairer and sustainable world where everyone has equal rights & claims to its wealth and resources, regardless of their social or gender identity. Your signature can make a difference by supporting our cause aimed at uplifting those who have been left behind by society's progress so far.
Please sign this petition today!