Kathmandu, December 11:

Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan today launched a report Nepal Statistics and Indigenous Peoples, a compilation of disaggregated statistics related with indigenous people in Nepal. Much of the data have been acquired from the 2001 Census.

The report was published by the Nepal Tamang Ghedung with help from UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and Regional Indigenous People Programme.

Releasing the report, DPM Sherchan said he would present a copy to the Prime Minister and ask him to realise the extent of discrimination against the indigenous people.

The report presents several cases of discrimination against indigenous peoples and our country can not develop unless this ends, he said.

Only a republican Nepal, and can ensure an end to the discriminations highlighted in the report.

“Our country will reach a concrete political conclusion very soon and there is no alternative to that,” he said. Advisor to the NTG Parshuram Tamang said the report has acquired data related with indigenous communities from various sources. “We hope this book would be helpful to understand the real picture of various aspects of Nepali indigenous people,” he added.

“Number speaks louder than words,” said Dr Keshav Man Shakya of SNV, a Dutch INGO, adding: “We cannot undermine the issues like social exclusion.”