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June 6, Lalitpur- The first round of the series of special meeting of the critical group of SEBSers kicked-off in Kathmandu today with overwhelming response. Twenty members were invited to the meeting but eight members could not make it citing several reasons,

Senior SEBSers Santosh Bisht, Dr Saroj Shrestha and Govinda Rai from the first batch and Ujjwol Thapa were among the key participants in the discussion.

The meeting suggested continuing the process of dialogues with members in smaller groups. The meeting also advised the SEBS ex-comm to give more focus to its members and try to accommodate their causes citing the diversity in the SEBS. All opined such situation need to be created that SEBSers should not feel that the SEBS as a burden to them. SEBS President Suresh Acharya highlighted that 'a similar kind of meeting-in-series will be held with involving more SEBSers in smaller groups, which will not exceed 15 members at a time.' All agreed that such meetings could be more meaningful and crucial in implementing ex-comm's work-plan.

The overall issues of the SEBS, and its members were discussed at length. But many of the participants opined that participation of members in the SEBS activities and functions have continued to be alarmingly dismal since more than one and half decade without any improvements. It has also raised questions on the legitimacy of the SEBS as an organization.

One prominent participant thundered that "It's already too late in assessing and taking decisions about the fate of the SEBS." He doubted whether the SEBS would sustain as a viable organization.

Some questioned the benefit and utility of the rented SEBS Office facility, in the context of ever increasing overhead costs and paucity of members visiting the office. However, the meeting also instructed the current ex-comm to go ahead with its proposal to constitute a 9-member Emeritus Advisory Board (EAB). The senior members Dr Saroj Shrestha and Santosh Bisht have offered to volunteer in the EAB as its member. They also suggested to hold this dialogues at the SEBS office in future.

The meeting also gave approval for the expansion of the ex-comm membership to 19 from 13 and to amend the SEBS constitution as required as per the proposed Article of Association presented in the Special General Assembly (SGM) held few months ago in Lalitpur.

The SEBS president informed the meeting that he has initiated a process with the Government of Nepal to include the SEBS as a beneficiary in the upcoming National Budget allocation. Initially, the SEBS has requested for Rs 50 lakh annual budgetary allocation to run its social activities including nationwide scholarship programme. The SEBS President also requested SEBSers to be a part of the SEBS delegation to meet government officials in the budget preparation phase so as to strongly urge them and lobbying.

The reception fellowship ended with snacks at around 8:30 pm. The second round of meeting of the critical group of SEBSers will be held at the SEBS office on Sunday, 11th June 2010 at 4:00 pm.