Kathmandu, January 7:

The first national conference of the Nepal Chhantyal Students’ Association (NCSA) concluded today, electing a 19-member central executive committee headed by Khum Bahadur Chhantyal. The conference urged the state to bring the Chhyantals into the mainstream and impart education to Chhyantal children in their mother tongue.

The conference elected two vice-presidents for the committee — Kumar Chhantyal and Hira Chhantyal. Govinda Chhantyal is the general secretary, while Kamal Chhantyal, Kamala Chhantyal and Lokendra Chhantyal are secretary, treasurer and joint treasurer of the committee.

General secretary Chhantyal said the conference has decided to demand restructuring of

the state to bring socially and culturally discriminated indigenous nationalities into the mainstream. The three-day conference demanded that the government review the categorisation of indigenous nationalities scientifically, saying that the marginalised Chhantyal community has been included in the group comprising the Gurung and Rai communities, which are much more advanced than the Chhantyals.

At the inauguration of the conference, student leader Gagan Thapa said indigenous people have been deprived of basic amenities. President of the ANNFSU(Unified) Bhim Rai accused the student unions affiliated to political parties of ignoring ethnic issues.