Lalitpur, July 9 :

Following two days of intensive discussions, the national workshop organised by Tharu lawyers and students concluded here today with an 11-point Kathmandu declaration.

The declaration has demanded the government declare 24 Terai districts where indigenous Tharu people are living in majority as Tharuhat or Tharuwan Republic.

The meeting also concluded that Nepal’s Terai region is not a Madhesh.

“As the present structure of the state cannot solve the impending problems, a federal system should be established with proportionate representation of all ethnic people where there would be no place for the monarch,” the declaration stated.

It also said Tharu community should be properly reprsented in all government and non-government bodies, including the army, police, legal bodies, foundations, industries, political sector, constitutional bodies and diplomatic missions.

According to the president of the Tharu Student’s Society, the meeting also demand a special provision for the Kamaiyas and the Kamalaharis.

It demanded that the two communities’ basic needs be guaranteed.

Other demands include the identification of the conflict-hit Tharu people and compensation for them, besides guaranteeing their health, education and security and other basic needs.

“The indigenous Tharu community should be provided with land ownership, water and forest.”

The interactive national workshop on “Form of Interim Constitution and new structure of the state in Constituent Assembly (CA)” was jointly organised by the Tharu Students’ Society and the Indigenous Tharu Legal Practitioners Society (ITLPS).