Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 15:

People from various Kirat communities today demanded recognition to all the 22 Kirat communities, which fall within the broad category of Kirat. Addressing an interaction on Recognition of Kirat Communities, organised by All Kirat Students Forum (AKSF), head of the women’s division of the Rastriya Janamukti Party Ganga Devi Chamling said recognition was necessary for the ethnic minorities to get access to development opportunities.

The students demanded that all the 22 different ethnic communities be listed in the list of indigenous groups of the National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN). They claimed all the groups meet the criteria for the listing. Bachchhu Chamling of Association of Kirat Kulung Language and Cultural Development said all the ethnic groups should unitedly fight for their rights.