Kathmandu, May 11: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has said self-awakening is essential along with adherence to law and administrative mechanisms to maintain good governance in the country.     

Inaugurating a day-long meditation programme organized jointly by the Foreign Ministry and Jivan Bigyan at the Department of Passport on Saturday, DPM Shrestha viewed enhanced awareness among citizens as equally imperative for building a civilized society.     

"Although law and state mechanisms are essential for establishing the rule of law and good governance, they are not enough to sort out many problems," he insisted, adding that the people holding power warrant accountability toward citizens. Correction of behaviour helps clean up corruption and irregularities, according to him.  

Moreover, the DPM viewed yoga and meditation as practised based on scientific and certified processes to eliminate negative feelings in a person and society. He wished everyone practised yoga and meditation.     

He also reminded that Nepal is the provenance of yoga and has the proper atmosphere for it as well. Shrestha assured that a special scheme would be introduced in the forthcoming budget and policies and programmes. The initiatives he took for launching yoga and mediation in different ministries and state agencies in the past had resulted in a positive note, Shrestha argued. 

The programme was attended by some 100 government employees including Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, instructor of Jivan Bigyan, Ramesh Nepal and LP Bhanu Sharma, facilitated the sessions.