Gen Z Protesters Declared Martyrs; Government Announces Compensation of 15 Million, Investigation, and Memorial

KalimNews, September 15, 2025, Kathmandu : On Monday, the government of Nepal officially declared those who died during the recent Gen Z protests as martyrs and decided to provide financial compensation to their families. From now on, the deceased individuals will be referred to as "Gen Z martyrs." According to government records, a total of 72 people died during the protests, and hundreds remain hospitalised across the country.

This was the first Cabinet meeting held after the appointment of Sushila Karki as the new Prime Minister on September 12. The meeting was chaired by her and was attended by newly appointed ministers.

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal announced the government's decision, stating that each bereaved family will receive 1 million Nepalese rupees (NPR) in compensation, with an additional NPR 500,000 provided to cover other expenses. In total, NPR 1.5 million will be given to each family of the deceased.

He also stated that state funerals with national honours would be held for the victims, and a national day of mourning would be observed on September 17. On that day, the national flag will be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect.

The government will also ensure that the bodies of the deceased are returned to their home districts, and it will cover transportation and air travel costs for families in remote areas. Aryal emphasized that a judicial inquiry commission would be formed to investigate the use of force during the protests and the circumstances leading to the deaths.

A theoretical decision has been made to form the inquiry commission, which will be headed by a former judge of the Supreme Court. However, Aryal said that the structure and full composition of the commission is yet to be finalized.

The government also decided to continue providing free medical treatment to those injured during the protests. The expenses for their treatment will be borne by the state.

The compensation money will be released by the Ministry of Finance and distributed via the respective District Administration Offices.

Separately, Nepal Police announced that the families of police personnel who were killed during the Gen Z protests would also receive NPR 1 million each. This amount will be raised through salary deductions from all police personnel, including the Inspector General and officers of all ranks.

So far, 59 protesters and 3 security personnel have been confirmed dead during the protests. However, not all those who died will receive the compensation. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 10 prisoners who were shot and killed while attempting to escape jail during the riots will not be eligible for compensation. These prisoners had attempted to break out during the chaos, and security forces opened fire to prevent the jailbreak.

The government confirmed that only those who died directly due to police firing or other protest-related circumstances will be considered Gen Z martyrs and receive the announced compensation.

Bodies of victims were recovered in several locations including:

• 12 bodies in Bhatbhateni, Kathmandu

• 1 in Bhatbhateni, Biratnagar

• 4 in Dharan

• 6 in Chuchhepati, Kathmandu

The respective District Administration Offices will investigate and confirm the cause of death for each victim before releasing compensation.

To commemorate the movement, the government also announced plans to establish a “Gen Z Awakening Memorial Park” in memory of the fallen protesters. The search is currently underway for a suitable location for the park.

Additionally, Aryal informed that all policy proposals forwarded by the former KP Oli-led government to the Cabinet have been returned to their respective ministries for review.

New Ministers Sworn In and Key Decisions Taken

Earlier on Monday, three new ministers were sworn into office by President Ramchandra Paudel at the President’s Office in Sheetal Niwas.

• Rameshore Khanal was sworn in as the Finance Minister

• Kulman Ghising was appointed as Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation

• Om Prakash Aryal was sworn in as Minister for Home Affairs

In addition, Ghising has also been assigned leadership of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, as well as the Ministry of Urban Development. Aryal has been given an additional portfolio of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, in addition to his role as Home Minister.

In line with the revolutionary spirit of the Gen Z movement, the newly appointed ministers acted swiftly to begin policy reforms.

Finance Minister Announces Budget Cuts

Finance Minister Rameshore Khanal announced that he would cut small-scale projects currently listed in the national budget. This is expected to save around NPR 100 billion in government expenditure. Addressing officials at the ministry, he said that given the upcoming general elections in March 2026 and the urgent need for national reconstruction, public funds should be redirected toward essential programs.

To carry this out, Khanal formed a three-member task force headed by the Chief of the Budget Division, which will review all budgetary allocations, eliminate non-priority projects, and set new priorities aligned with national interest.

He also instructed that damaged parts of the Singha Durbar complex (the main government administrative complex in Kathmandu) be cleared of debris and repainted quickly, as part of early reconstruction efforts.

Kulman Ghising Orders Recovery of Unpaid Power Dues

Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, widely praised for ending load-shedding in Nepal during his earlier tenure as NEA chief, resumed his previous mission to recover unpaid electricity dues.

He issued directives to collect outstanding payments from factories and businesses that received dedicated electricity lines during the years of power cuts but failed to pay. These companies owe billions of rupees to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), and Ghising had earlier attempted to recover these dues during his time at NEA. However, his efforts were blocked by the KP Oli government, which led to his removal from the post.

Now, back in office as a minister, Ghising has made recovery of these debts one of his top priorities. In addition to leading the energy ministry, he is also overseeing the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development.

This series of decisions marks a new political chapter in Nepal following the Gen Z uprising that ousted the previous Oli-led administration and triggered mass calls for reform. The new citizen-led interim government is expected to remain in power until the next general elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.