KATHMANDU: Lawmakers on Sunday suggested the CA Committee to Protect the Rights of Minorities and Marginalised Community to make the proposed provisions in its concept on the new constitution more precise and stronger, saying they need extra rights under the principle of proper inclusion.

Discussing the concept paper and initial draft of the CPRMMC, they, however, lauded the provision for compensation to minorities and marginalised community and the definition of untouchability as heinous social offence.

UCPN-M’s lawmaker Bishwa Bhakta Dulal lauded the progressive provision included in the initial draft and demanded the committee to specify Nepal as a ‘multi-lingual’ state to respect the rights of such communities. “The communities, which have a very small

population, should be provided with special rights so that they could be included in the state organs through proportional representation,” he added.

Dulal also suggested identifying such minorities in the constitution. “The proposed provision of identifying those communities only through a commission after the promulgation of the new statute would not be appropriate. This provision should be corrected,” he added.

Radheshyam Adhikari of the NC also suggested identifying such communities before writing the constitution and removing the provision to form a commission for the purpose. “The data about the communities should be authentic and irrelevant terms should be removed. There must be strong provisions to protect the rights of backward groups,” he added.

UML’s lawmaker Bhim Rawal also suggested removing irrelevant provisions and said that the constitution should be precise.

The discussions will continue tomorrow.