KATHMANDU: People from various indigenous communities of the country observed the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples by organising a peaceful protest rally from Bhrikuti Mandap (Bwojyaa Khya in Nepal Bhasa) to Maitighar Mandala (Fibwa Khya) today.

This day, in the previous years, was marked by organising various programmes and an event in Tundikhel (Ti Khyo). However, this year the indigenous group held a rally as a sign of protest showcasing their dissatisfaction with the state for not creating an inclusive environment.

For almost over a month, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) has been staging demonstrations against the vacancy notice published by the  Federal Public Service Commission to recruit 9,161 employees at 515 local levels, calling the notice a barrier to inclusion and that it did not comply with the reservation policies as guaranteed by the country's constitution.

World Indigenous Peoples Day is marked today as the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was held on this very day in 1982.