Prime minister calls for stronger cooperation to advance rights of indigenous communities
KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 15
Prime Minister Sushila Karki has stated that safeguarding and promoting inclusion, social justice, and cultural and linguistic diversity are the responsibilities of the State.
Inaugurating the 26th Board Meeting of the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities on Sunday, PM Karki praised the Foundation's role in advancing the recognition, rights, culture, and overall development of indigenous communities.
She expressed confidence that the meeting's decisions and policy recommendations would support the effective implementation of national policies and strengthen institutional capacity, research-based policymaking, protection of mother languages, and sustainable socio-economic empowerment.
The prime minister said the government has been supporting the Foundation through policy reforms, structural arrangements, and budgetary provisions, while stressing the need for enhanced coordination among development partners, civil society, local governments, and communities.
Reiterating commitment to the Constitution's core principles-including republicanism, federalism, secularism, and inclusiveness-PM Karki urged effective enforcement of constitutional guarantees to transform diversity into national unity.
She also reaffirmed the government's commitment to revising laws in line with Supreme Court directives, ILO Convention 169, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, noting the contributions of constitutional commissions such as the Indigenous and Tharu Commissions.
Referring to demands raised by the Gen Z movement, PM Karki said calls for good governance, prosperity, and an end to nepotism reflect the urgency of inclusive development and social justice.