Nepal’s Karki adds popular volunteer organiser, doctor to cabinet

Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sunday expanded her interim cabinet which was formed in the wake of a youth-led uprising last month, inducting two ministers seen as popular among young people.

The unrest on September 8-9 was triggered by a brief ban on social media but fuelled by long-standing frustration over economic hardship and corruption.

Violence during the protests, which led to the collapse of the previous government, killed at least 73 people and left parliament, courts and government buildings in flames.

On Sunday, officials said President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office to the new members of Karki’s government: Youth and Sports Minister Bablu Gupta, and Dr Sudha Sharma, who was made minister of health and population.

Gupta, 28, is known for his work with a volunteer organisation called 100’s Group which supports underprivileged communities through food drives and education programmes.

Sharma, a doctor by profession, is also an author known for her leadership in maternal and child health policy.