Kathmandu, August 4:

Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) said today that it would organise a series of programmes throughout the week to mark the World Indigenous Day 2008.

“This year, we are organising various programmes to pressure the government to form federal states on the basis of ethnicity, region and language,” NEFIN president Pasang Sherpa said at a press conference organised to inform people about NEFIN’s programmes and exchange greetings on the occasion of WID 2008.

“We will pressure the government to insert certain provisions in the provision for the formation of federal states,” he said.

The Association of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities’ Journalists’ Association, Nepal Indigenous Nationalities’ Students’ Federation and the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities are also organising various functions throughout the week.

Cultural, sports and food festivals will also be organised, according to the NEFIN.

Workshops and seminars, including a national political conference, will also be organised to mark the day.