Kathmandu, February 12:

Student organisations in mainstream politics, who are fighting for inclusive democracy in the nation, today said they were ready to incorporate the practice of inclusive democracy in

the coming Free Students’ Union (FSU) election to be held in February.

Secretary of the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU) Yagya Raj Sunuwar said the union has decided to compulsorily include Janajatis, women, Dalits, Madhesis and differently disabled students in their panel contesting the coming FSU elections.

He was speaking at an interaction on “Role and position of Indigenous Nationalities in the coming Free Students’ Union election” organised by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Students (NEFINS).

According to Sunuwar, it is the first decision of its kind in the history of the country’s student politics. “At least two student leaders each from Janajatis, women, oppressed groups and one each from Madhesi and disabled students has been made mandatory in each panel of the ANNFSU that contests the FSU election,” he said. He added that a circular to this effect has been sent to all district and college units throughout the nation.

Sunuwar also said the ANNFSU has proposed the eight students unions support each other during the students’ election so that the ongoing movement for restoration of democracy in the nation is not negatively affected.

President of NEFINS, Chandra Bikram Rai said the federation is expecting the student leaders to implement their resolution.

Rai, in his concept paper, said all students organisations should include at least 30 per cent indigenous communities and promote brilliant ones from these to major posts.

Vice-president of Nepal Students’ Union, Kshitiz Bhandary said the Nepali Congress had delayed raising the issue of inclusion and that NSU has also included four Janajatis and a Dalit in its recent central committee and that the number would keep increasing in future.