Kathmandu: The Department of Forests and Soil Conservation marked the 22nd Civil Service Day by planting tree saplings at the Horticulture Centre in Kirtipur. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to control soil erosion and maintain the area’s greenery.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the event was inaugurated by Raj Kumar Shrestha, Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, who emphasized the importance of sapling plantation. Shiva Kumar Wagle, officiating secretary of the Ministry of Forests, highlighted that this activity is a central part of the Day’s main ceremony. Dhirendra Kumar Pradhan, Director General of the Department, stressed the imperative of forest protection for soil erosion control and environmental conservation.
Chief of the Horticulture Centre, Dinesh Sapkota, reported that the Centre collected Rs 10.2 million in revenue last year from selling various saplings. The event was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Secretary of the Home Ministry Gokarna Mani Duwadee and Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Govinda Prasad Sharma, alongside other civil servants.
Nepal has been observing Civil Service Day since 2061 BS to commemorate the promulgation of the first Civil Service Act on Bhadra 22, 2013 BS.
In another event to mark the occasion, the Department of Postal Services launched a week-long Civil Service Day Philatelic Exhibition. Co-organised by the Nepal Philatelic Society, the exhibition aims to highlight the essence and history of the civil service through postage stamps.
Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Radhika Aryal, stressed the importance of maintaining a clean image to uphold the civil service’s pride and trustworthiness. Manamaya Pangeni Bhattarai, Director General of the Department, noted that the philatelic expo serves as an inspirational tool for the coming generations about the civil service’s significance.