The taskforce, headed by noted sociologist and indigenous leader Dr Om Gurung, had been assigned to submit a new list of indigenous nationalities by February 17, 2010. Formed on June 19, 2009 with the mandate of submitting its report within four months, the committee had asked for extension of its term twice in the past. [break]
“Since we have already sought extension of our term twice, we just request the government to postpone the deadline of report submission by a week this time,” Dr Gurung told myrepublica.com. The taskforce has decided to formally write to the government in this regard on Wednesday.
According to Dr Gurung, the new list of indigenous nationalities will be longer than existing one which was approved by the government almost 12 years ago. Dr Gurung said the new list would have at least 75 groups of indigenous nationalities.
“Fifteen to 20 new groups of indigenous nationalities will be incorporated into the new list,” Dr Gurung said. The current list comprises only 59 groups of indigenous nationalities. Earlier, the present list submitted by a taskforce led by Santa Bahadur Gurung had 61 groups.
With Chhitans and Thintans merging into Gurung, the old list only has 59 ethnic groups. Moreover, the new taskforce is all set to slash two more ethnic groups off the old list. Frees and Chhairotans groups will have no place in the new list of indigenous nationalities.
“We traveled to over 35 districts in the course of relisting indigenous nationalities but found Frees and Chhairotans nowhere,” Dr Gurung said. “Nor has any one from these tribal groups come forward to claim their identities.” In addition, the taskforce is likely to merge Bankariyas into Chepang on grounds of common identity.
With people´s growing political aspirations for special rights in the new constitution, if not separate autonomous states, scores of sub-caste groups within 59 indigenous nationalities have come forth demanding that the government recognize them as different ethnic groups. A total of 85 sub-caste groups have asserted their cultural uniqueness.
Tiny groups of Bhote, Nimba, Ngisang, Gyalsung and Karmarung, who were already believed to be as sub-castes of Sherpa, have demanded that they be recognized as separate ethnic groups. Likewise, Jyapu, Prajapati, Deula (Pode) and Balami have refused to be recognized as Newars.
Various sub-caste groups from within Rai, Gurung and Tharu have also demanded that the government recognize them as separate groups.
According to Lok Thapa, member secretary of the taskforce, indigenous nationalities have been relisted mainly on two grounds: definition of the United Nations (UN) and the broader national understanding on ethnicity. The UN has defined indigenous nationalities as ethnic groups possessing their own land, language and culture.
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