Dev Kumar Sunuwar

Written off three indigenous nationalities of the earlier listed 59, adding 29 new to finalize 85 nationalities as ‘indigenous’

A high level taskforce to review the enlistment of the country’s indigenous nationalities has ultimately finalized its report after almost nine months rigorous field researches and interaction, but is likely to end up in a ‘controversy’ following the dissatisfaction from the caste-groups who have been missed out in the new list.

The taskforce, headed by noted sociologist and indigenous leader Dr Om Gurung, assigned to submit a new list of indigenous nationalities by February 17, 2010 has written off three indigenous nationalities, out of earlier listed 59 and added 29 new to finalize 85 nationalities as ‘indigenous’.

According to report, Bankariya was merged into Chepang, whereas the two other groups—Frees and Chhairotans—have been omitted from the lists since no any member of them were found during the field visits.

On June 19 last year, the government formed taskforce with the mandate for reviewing and updating the indigenous peoples’ lists and submitting its report within four months but the committee extended its term twice in the past was that some caste-groups exerted the pressure on the taskforce member to not to omit them from the new list, according to one of the member of the taskforce (whose name has been concealed in request). The taskforce is only waiting the call from government to submit its report.

According to Om Gurung, only 29 nationalities have been added in the new lists, of the over 120 castes including ‘Hindu elite caste’ Brahmins and Chhetris sought for recognition as an indigenous.

“In course of enlistment, we, (members of the taskforce) travelled to over 35 districts, conducted several rounds of interactions in regional and national level with concerned stakeholders and indigenous experts and studied the Indian basis of enlistments of indigenous peoples. Furthermore, we made several attempts to common understanding among the castes and sub-castes who sought for recognition” Gurung said. “We finally came up with the total 85 lists of nationalities as an indigenous, as per the definition and international standards.”

He also said that the nationalities were enlisted mainly on the basis of United Nations (UN) definition and the broader national understanding on indigenous nationalities.

The UN has defined indigenous nationalities as ethnic groups possessing their own distinct social, economic or political system so as distinct language, culture and beliefs. Subsequently, as per the definition of the government, indigenous peoples hold a distinct collective identity, language, religion, tradition, culture and civilization. They have written or oral history and their own traditional egalitarian social structure and they must be in existence from time immemorial.

More importantly, as per international standards, an indigenous community must hold at least a common identity, history, culture, religion, customs and beliefs. But, those who have been left over from the list, including Brahmins and Chhetris did not meet the criteria, according to Gurung.

Meanwhile, talking to the Post, the General Secretary of Chhetri Samaj Nepal and the President of Rastriya Brahmin Samaj respectively Kumar Khadka and Narayan Adhikari said that they are going to handover the memorandum to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and concerned Ministries by opposing to the enlistment of the taskforce and demanding government to make new list and recognize them as an indigenous community of the country. Otherwise, they would exert into a stern protest to meet their demands. According to the 2001 statistics, there are more than 101 nationalities in Nepal.