Kathmandu, January 8:

The National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) is preparing to launch a special programme for the conservation of the five endangered indigenous minorities whose population is less than 1,000, including Bankariya, Surel, Kusunda, Kushbadiya and Raute.

Jeetpal Kirat, vice-chairman of NFDIN, today said, “Due to technological advancement, the endangered indigenous minorities have been facing a very hard time coping with the fast-changing world. The government should, therefore, take the necessary steps to strengthen these communities.”

According to the 2001 census the population of Bankariya is 71, Surel

150, Kusunda 165, Kushbadiya 552 and Raute 658. Kirat said the census has mistaken Raute’s population as their number is still less than 658.

“They may even need to be resettled at places of their choice,” he said, adding special priority would be given to these communities from the upcoming fiscal year.

NFDIN has been supporting their livelihood assessing their need but that was done at a low budget. They were given cloths at times and income generating programmes were also held but these were not significant due to the budget constraint, Kirat added.

The foundation would provide effective health services and sanitation thus reducing their infant and maternity mortality rate. “Providing the children good education and proper health services we would increase the life expectancy of these communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, NFDIN with support from Institutional Strengthening Project (ISP), is preparing for the ethnographic profiling of all indigenous nationalities of the country.

According to Chandra Bahadur Bhujel, project coordinator of ISP, the profiling should be completed by September 2008.