Baglung, August 8:

General Secretary of the Federation of Indigenous People, Dr Om Gurung, today called for amendment of the Constitution so that all indigenous people of the country can be represented adequately in the political, social and economical sectors. Speaking at an interaction of the federation on the eve of World Indigenous Day, he said the present structure of the State and the indifference of the government towards the indigenous were the main problems. He added that the community is denied even fundamental rights and achievements gained after the people’s movement of 1990. Stating that the indigenous community must unite to resolve the problem, he added, “The first step towards problem solution is to be aware, united and organized.” Dr Gurung added that in the conflict between the State and the Maoists, it is the ethnic, indigenous community that is affected the most. Kaji Shrestha of Nepal Bhasa Manka Khala presented a report titled, “Problems of the indigenous community and their solution”.