'Indigenous' people reiterate call to fulfil 9-pt demand

People belonging to ethnic communities bring out a colourful procession in Thakurgaon town following a conference of Jatiya Adibasi Parishad at the local press club yesterday.Photo: STAR

'Indigenous' leaders yesterday reiterated nine-point demand including their constitutional recognition and rights.
They made the call at the district conference of Jatiya Adibasi Parishad, a platform for the indigenous people, held at Thakurgoan Press Club auditorium.
The leaders also called for arranging mother tongue-based primary education for their children, ensuring community's quota in higher education and government service, formation of a separate land commission to protect land rights of the indigenous people.
The speakers at a discussion alleged that the quota for indigenous community at the educational institutions is not maintained properly. The authorities often admit general students depriving the indigenous people and flouting rules.
They said that the indigenous people become victim of discrimination in different fields as the government remains indifferent to their causes.
They always lag behind as they are deprived of their rights in most sectors, the leaders said.
They alleged that most indigenous people can not get proper treatment at hospitals as the doctors do not pay attention to them as they come from 'backward community.'
The speakers demanded immediate formation of a separate land commission to protect their rights on the plain lands.
They urged the government to save the indigenous people from the land grabbers.
They also caled to establish a separate ministry for indigenous people to deal with their problems and declare them indigenous people instead of ethnic communities.
The speakers also demanded mother tongue-based primary education for their children and the community's quota in higher education and government service.
They said that adibasi people played a significant role during the Liberation War in 1971 but they are yet to get constitutional rights.
General secretary of Jatiya Adibasi Parishad Robin Soren attended the event as chief guest while president of district unit Surjo Mormu chaired it.