LAMJUNG: Locals of Marsyangdi Rural Municipality in Lamjung district have committed to making the rural municipality 'racial discrimination' and 'untouchability' free. Local residents gathered in Marsyangdi-8 and decided to end the practice of ostracising minority groups that are segregated from the mainstream by social customs. Marsyangdi Rural Municipality chair Arjun Gurung said, there still remain problems rooted in racial discrimination in various villages of the locality. He said local residents committed to spreading public awareness against the oppressive treatment of Dalit communities. Local representatives, civil servants, teachers, mothers' groups, youth club among other members of civil society concurred with the commitment made by the rural municipality. In a public commitment programme organised by Marsyangdi Rural Municipality today in order to implement 'untouchability' free rural municipality, local Ajita BK lamented that Dalits were considered untouchables in the village. On the occasion, Gandaki Province Governor Maya Nath Adhikari -- who is also Province Assembly member and chief whip of Nepal Communist Party (NCP), Gandaki -- said that the party cadres practising racial discrimination and untouchability would be punished and dismissed from the party.