The rights of the indigenous nationalities were also not properly utilized: Chairman Magar
Kathmandu. Chairman of the Indigenous Nationalities Commission, Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar, has said that the rights of the indigenous nationalities have not been properly utilized.
Speaking at a national consultative seminar on ‘Protection, Achievements and Challenges of Indigenous Peoples of Nepal from 1993 to 2016′ organized on the occasion of the 32nd International Day of the World’
s Indigenous Peoples on Saturday, President Magar said that although the indigenous nationalities have achieved their rights, they have not been properly utilized.
He said that while observing the situation of indigenous nationalities in the last few years from the higher authorities of the state, he has seen that although there is a situation of acquiring rights, they have not been properly utilized.
‘Even if you get something, you have not been able to use it properly. It’s not that we’ve all gotten it, we have a lot to gain. There are a lot of things that the indigenous peoples have to offer, but we are not able to take the things that they have got in the right way,” he said.
President Magar said that the struggle for the rights of indigenous nationalities and achievements should not be taken lightly.
He stressed that the lawmakers of indigenous nationalities at the policy-making level should raise the issues of rights of their communities with priority.
According to him, the representation of indigenous nationalities, Dalits, women and oppressed communities in the 2007 Constituent Assembly was comparatively strong on the basis of population.
But since then, he said, the representation has been steadily declining.
‘In the Constituent Assembly of 2007, there was full proportional representation of indigenous nationalities on the basis of population. Since then, it has been decreasing, decreasing and now reaching 24 per cent,” he said.
He said that the representation of indigenous nationalities in the National Assembly is still low and the representation of indigenous nationalities is only 10-11 percent. Magar claimed that the concept of proportional representation was institutionalized after the 20-point agreement reached between the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities of Nepal and the Government of Nepal on August 7, 2004.
Therefore, he said that the newly elected Indigenous Nationalities MPs should not hesitate to raise the issue of the rights of their communities.
‘It’s not achieved by a small battle, a small struggle. This has been achieved through the great sacrificial struggle of our forefathers. Therefore, I request the honorable people at the policy-making level to understand this history and struggle and raise the issue of the rights of indigenous peoples,” he said.
Recalling that in the past, community representatives could be elected only from areas where there was majority of indigenous nationalities, he said the constitution itself has ensured inclusive representation.
He said, “The constitution also provides for the representation of indigenous peoples. This system did not come just like that, it is the result of a long struggle and movement. “
President Magar said that along with the rights of indigenous nationalities, attention should be paid to protect their original culture, tradition and identity. He was of the view that the state agencies and institutions should work in a new way by rising above traditional thinking and formality while implementing programs related to indigenous nationalities.
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