The taskforce headed by noted indigenous leader and sociologist Dr Om Gurung was due to submit the new list of indigenous nationalities to the government on February 17. [break]
Earlier, the taskforce had sought extension of the deadline by a week for the submission of the report citing “technical problems.” However, despite the finalization of the report, the taskforce is yet to summit the report.
Dr Gurung said that the taskforce would hopefully submit its report next week. “It is just a matter of technical errors, nothing else,” he said, adding, “We are, however, holding talks with various sub-castes to avoid possible outcries.”
However, sources claimed that Dr Gurung´s idea of relisting indigenous nationalities has drawn criticism from other quarters. While Dr Gurung, along with a majority of members, are for relisting indigenous nationalities on the basis of the United Nations (UN)´s definition about ethnicity, some members have demanded that languages also be made a basis for such classification.
The new list will definitely have more groups of indigenous nationalities, if language is also taken as a basis. As of now, the taskforce has come up with a new list of some 75 indigenous nationalities identifying them on the basis of the UN definition and varnashram, a hierarchical caste system of the Hindus.
Hom Yamphu, a member of the taskforce, said, “It is natural for some members to have different views. We may opt for a broader term to settle the dispute.”
Over 85 castes and sub-caste groups have sought separate identities. The taskforce has listed just about a dozen of them. It is learnt that some caste-groups have recently been exerting pressure on the taskforce members to not omit them from the new list. They have demanded that language and culture also be considered as the basis of classification.
The government had constituted the taskforce on June 19, 2009 with a mandate of preparing a new list of indigenous nationalities within a period of four months. The new list will facilitate government decisions on reservations meant for ethnic groups.
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