Declining Benefits Before Taking Office
Newly appointed Interim Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal announced that he will not accept any of the perks that typically accompany the position. Even before his swearing-in on 15 September, Khanal reportedly made it clear that he would not draw a salary, use an official residence, or take a government vehicle. He has also refused a personal security officer and requested that the honorific “Honorable” not be attached to his name.
Sources close to the Prime Minister’s Office reportedly confirmed that his conditions were communicated in advance and accepted without objection.
The decision has been welcomed as a symbolic gesture of integrity at a time when public frustration with political privilege remains high.
A Career Defined by Integrity
Khanal, a respected economist and former Finance Secretary, has long been associated with fiscal discipline and principled governance. His reputation was shaped by a career marked by refusal to bend to political pressure. Known for his evidence-based approach, he consistently warned against wasteful spending and misuse of resources.
This is not the first time he has declined state benefits. While serving as chief economic advisor to then–Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Khanal refused government facilities and focused solely on policy work. More recently, he led a reform committee recommending cost-cutting measures and administrative changes aimed at strengthening financial discipline.
Challenges Ahead
Khanal assumes office at a time when Nepal is facing pressing economic challenges. Rising debt, weak capital expenditure, and limited job opportunities have strained public confidence. Observers say his leadership may bring renewed discipline to the ministry and help implement overdue reforms.
Business leaders and economists have expressed cautious optimism, noting that his clean image and technical expertise could encourage greater trust in government decision-making. Social media users have also praised his decision, describing it as an example of “clean politics in action.”
A Test of Principle in Politics
Even as Khanal steps into a role loaded with expectations, there is something quietly powerful about his choice. In refusing the things many take for granted—salary, car, residence, security—he signals that public office can be about service, not self.
The weight of Nepal’s current challenges is real: protests, economic strain, lost trust. But Khanal’s action carries hope: because people are already talking not just about old promises, but about what someone can do.
Watch a video here:
@nixxxy417 Rameshwar Khanal is walking the talk. As Nepal’s incoming Finance Minister, he’s refusing salary, residence, vehicle-every perk. Just like he did as Economic Advisor under PM Bhattarai. Integrity isn’t new for him-it’s his standard. #Nepal #NepalNews #LeadershipByExample #fyp
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