Nepal announces govt jobs for families of 27 students killed in Gen Z protests

Newly-appointed Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has approved government jobs for the families of 27 students who were killed during the September 8 "Gen Z" protests, with the decision implemented immediately after his Cabinet took office.

The move, cleared in the first cabinet meeting following Shah’s swearing-in, has already been put into effect. Acting swiftly, the Nepal Electricity Authority under the Energy Ministry issued a public notice listing the eligible next of kin of the killed students and outlining the recruitment process.

According to the notice, one close family member of each of the 27 students will be offered employment in the electricity department within their respective home districts.

The appointments will be based on the candidate's qualifications and skill set. The authority has also published the names of both the killed students and the designated family members selected for the jobs.

Families have been asked to verify their relationship with those killed and collect their appointment letters within 35 days of the notice.

The 27 students were killed after police opened fire during the protests on September 8, 2025. Nineteen students died on the first day, while eight others succumbed to injuries the following day during treatment in hospitals.

The decision fulfils a key promise made by Shah in his election manifesto, which pledged government employment to families of those killed in the protests.

Shah and his Cabinet were sworn in after Nepal's first elections since the 2025 uprising that led to the fall of the previous KP Sharma Oli-led government.

The protests on September 8 and 9 began over a brief social media ban but quickly escalated into a broader anti-corruption movement driven by public anger over economic hardship. At least 77 people were killed in the unrest.

On the first day alone, at least 19 young protesters died in a police crackdown. The violence intensified the following day, spreading across the country as demonstrators set fire to parliament and government buildings, ultimately triggering the Oli government's collapse.

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(With inputs from Ganesh Shankar.)

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