The autonomous provinces proposed by the Maoists are: region-based Seti-Mahakali, Bheri-Karnali, and Madhes, and ethnicity-based Tharuwan, Magarat, Tamuwan, Tamsaling, Newa, Kirat, Limbuwan, Kochila, Sherpa, Bhote/Lama.
Earlier, prior to the CA elections, the Maoists had proposed nine autonomous provinces, but in their CA election manifesto, the party proposed 11 provinces after splitting Kochila from Limbuwan and Abadh from Bhojpura.
In their latest version submitted to the state restructuring committee, the party has added two new provinces --Bhote/Lama in the west and Sherpa in the east.
“We have changed our proposed federal model in view of new experiences,” said Maoist CA member Lokendra Bista who heads the state restructuring committee. He claimed that the proposed state restructuring model aims to uplift the status of ethnic groups and regions that have been neglected for centuries. He categorically denied that that restructuring the state based on ethnicity, language and region would infringe upon the rights of other caste groups -- mainly Chhetris and Brahmins.
Similarly, the party has proposed autonomous localities within the autonomous provinces. Such autonomous localities will also be based on ethnicity.
According to Gurung, Seti-Mahakali region will have two autonomous localities, Bheri-Karnali two, Magarat three, Tamuwan nine, Tamsaling 12, Kirat five, Limbuwan eight, Kochila nine, Madhes four, and Tharuwan two.
Likewise, the party has proposed setting up protected regions for tribal groups such as Raute and Kusunda that are on the verge of extinction. Bista said that the party is for giving special privileges to the ethnic groups that have put up with historic injustices for centuries. Going by the Maoist proposal, ethnic groups will have special political and economic rights in their respective regions.
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