Indigenous Nationalities Commission Chairman: Less Than 10% of Recommendations Implemented by Government

Lalitpur. The Chairman of the Indigenous Nationalities Commission, Rambhadur Thapamagar, stated that less than 10 percent of the recommendations the commission has given to the government over the past five years have been implemented.

Speaking at an event organized on Wednesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the Indigenous Nationalities Commission, he called it shameful that the reports of the commission have not been thoroughly discussed in the Federal and Provincial Parliaments.

Chairman Thapamagar noted that the fundamental language, culture, tradition, and identity of indigenous nationalities have been oppressed in the state-building process. Recalling the history where discrimination was legally institutionalized by the Muluki Ain of BS 1910, he clarified that the Indigenous Nationalities Commission was formed according to Article 261 of the Constitution against this very background.

“The commission has conducted advocacy, training, and empowerment programs related to linguistic, cultural, and traditional rights in more than 500 local levels across all seven provinces. In accordance with Article 294 of the Constitution, the commission has already submitted five annual reports to the President, which include 84 recommendations. These reports have also been submitted to the Provincial Chiefs,” said Chairman Thapamagar.

He informed that more than 90 percent of the complaints received by the commission relate to encroachment on traditional lands and impact on livelihoods due to national pride projects, road expansion, national parks, and hydropower projects. He added that despite resource and time constraints, hearings for 95 percent of the complaints have been completed.

At the event, it was informed that indigenous nationalities, who constitute 35 percent of the population, have only 16.9 percent representation in the civil service, have minimal presence in policy-making levels, and their representation in the National Assembly is limited to 10 percent. The risk of representation becoming zero if special laws are not enacted in line with the spirit of the Constitution was highlighted.