KATHMANDU, Dec 26: The indigenous nationalities leaders have said the bill related to the formation of an Indigenous Nationalities Commission introduced by the Social Justice and Human Rights Committee of the Legislature-Parliament would do nothing in terms of protection and promotion the rights of indigenous people if it is passed as it is.
At a workshop organized by the Committee in the capital to collect feedbacks on the bill, the indigenous leaders insisted on making massive revisions in the bill.
Dr Chaitanya Subba who is also the former member of National Planning Commission said the bill was unclear about the works, duties and rights of the Commission, about the qualification of its Chair and members, on the condition when its posts fall vacant and it seemed less powerful comparing to other constitutional bodies.
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The bill had failed to incorporate the matters of participation of the indigenous community in the state apparatus, the principle of inclusion and their access to health, education and accommodation facilities, he claimed
According to Subba, the bill has not talked about the liberation of indigenous people from exploitation, their economic dependency and protection of their culture and language.
"Overall, the bill is incomplete in terms of guaranteeing civic, political, social, economic, cultural rights of the indigenous people," he said.
Advocate Kunsang Lama said the bill needed to be revised regarding the matter of jurisdictions of the Commission. He added the bill had failed to clearly mention the rights of the community concerned.
Prior to this, inaugurating the workshop, Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Hitraj Pandey expressed his hope that the event would be successful in gathering feedbacks to revise the bill by correcting its flaws.
Committee President Sushil Shrestha said feedback capable of addressing the issues of social justice, proportional representation and inclusion envisaged by the constitution was expected from the event.
Article 261 of Nepal's Constitution has guaranteed the formation of an Indigenous Nationalities Commission of Nepal which shall have the rights to recommend to the government to make policy, legal and institutional reforms for the empowerment of the indigenous nationalities. RSS
