Kathmandu, September 20:

Minister for Local Development Rajendra Pandey said today the government would take initiatives to table a proposal in the House of Representatives through the Council of Ministers to ratify the resolution number 169 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to ensure the rights of the indigenous people.

The ILO had passed a resolution in 1989 to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people, who are often driven away from their lands.

Once ratified by the parliament, the resolution would help protect the rights of the indigenous people, Pandey said. The government would form a committee under the District Development Committee to protect the rights of the indigenous communities, Pandey said. The government has allocated a budget of Rs 33m for the purpose, he said.