The Tharu representatives at the two-day conference concluded that the Tarai-Madhes region that covers 22 districts should be delineated into three provinces. [break]
The participants of the conference said they have planned protests to press for a province with Tharu identity. Sources said they will make the details of protest programs public at a press meet on Sunday.
They have proposed three provinces in the Tarai region -- Tharuwan or Tharuhat Kochila province in the east, Mid-Tarai Tharuhat province or Simraungadh Gadhimai province in the mid-Tarai and Tharuhat province in the western part of the Tarai region.
According to their proposal, the eastern province should comprise Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Udaypur and Siraha districts, mid Tarai Tharuhat province districts including Dhanusha, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat and Makwanpur and west Tarai province Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilbastu, Dang, Banke, Surkhet, Bardiya and Kailali.
"We had differences over whether the Tarai region should comprise two or three provinces. We have finally decided that the Tarai-Madhes region should be delineated into at least three provinces," Raj Kumar Lekhi, chairman of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities. "This is a common resolution passed by 12 Tharu organizations."
Over 150 representatives from across 22 Tarai districts participated in the round-table seminar.
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