After a decade, Nepal is due to hold its census for the eleventh time in 2011. The history of census in Nepal goes back a hundred years to 1901. National census can facilitate planning of projects targeted towards specific groups if it records actual figures and conditions of those groups. The past censuses of Nepal are often termed to be “deliberate undercounting of [indigenous] communities…” and erroneous with omissions and misreported data , thus providing false picture of population composition. This has particularly concerned the indigenous nationalities of Nepal struggling for their identity and rights. Currently, Nepal has 59 ethnic groups identified as indigenous nationalities and many other groups are striving to be listed. The country has recently been transformed from a Hindu kingdom to a secular federal republic. The 2011 census – the first one since the country became a republic – thus holds a specific importance.
Past census questionnaires included questions made with precedence for Hindu religion and caste groups thereof, thus factual information was never recorded. During the partyless Panchayat system, census questionnaires provided Hinduism as the first option for the choice of religion – the same format is still continued in the forthcoming 2011 national census’ draft questionnaire – followed by second option being ‘others’ with no numbering for other religions. Nepal also has a considerable population that does not follow any particular religion (animists or nature worshippers), but the questionnaire does not provide an option of ‘no religion’ for such population. The choice of ‘no religion’ should also be included to record the number of Nepalese without any religious belief. The fact can be unacceptable for those who have obtained their ‘elite’ title on the basis of religion since ages. The statistics in this census may well again become merely another cover-up data.
National census used to be just a matter of state concern but now it has become an important issue of general concern. There have been many changes in Nepal during the period since last census. Nepalese have experienced changes in political, social and cultural aspects. In an inclusive federal democratic republic system, all ethnic and caste groups should get to live with sovereignty with their rights protected and identity guaranteed. In some cases, it has been found that the so-called dalits have hidden their real identity to prevent caste-based hatred and discrimination. This bigotry should be brought to an end.
Wrong census figures collected in regards to mother tongue/native languages, religions, and caste/ethnicity is not only particular to Nepal. This prevents the knowledge of which language, ethnic or religious groups have been marginalized. In lack of correct figures, the particular community is eventually denied from state-sponsored opportunities and privileges. How many native languages are there in Nepal currently? And which districts do they belong to? These questions are still unanswered. In multilingual Nepal, actual figures regarding native languages should be revealed as that indicates one’s ethnic identity. If an individual cannot speak his/her native language but states that it is his/her native language, then it should be identified accordingly. There are many native languages that are spoken by various indigenous groups but not listed in past censuses. For instance, Donei language is spoken in three districts of Nepal but it has not been listed. Similarly, Aathpahariya language is spoken in twice as many districts but the state does not have any record of speakers of that language.
Some figures revealed in past censuses seem to be imaginary data. In 2001 census, from among 103 ethnic/caste groups, the data shows only one Raute in Sankhuwasabha district, one Musahar in Solukhumbu district, three Badi people in Okhaldhunga district and forty four Chepangs in Sunsari district. Were the ethnic groups there in those districts in 2001? The Danuwar ethnic group that numbers five hundred thousands has been shown to number only 50,000. Figures should not be falsified in this manner. Criticisms abound regarding non-recognition of native languages and loss of identification. More than 35 languages are not listed in past national censuses. A state bears moral responsibility for the protection of its national languages, more particularly in regards to endangered ones – that number around 35 in Nepal. Thus, census should record actual details of languages. For this, it is necessary to ensure proportional participation of indigenous nationalities and other minority/oppressed groups while appointing officials to the Central Bureau of Statistics and the census team should be accompanied with local language expert as a facilitator. Only then correct data about linguistic and ethnic identity can be recorded.
The forthcoming national census should record complete and actual data of indigenous nationalities. The calls for including disaggregated data for indigenous peoples and indigenous women in the forthcoming National Census 2011 are not new. The state needs to be cautioned about the malpractices in past censuses that prevented the documentation of accurate figures. The 2011 national census has taken a form of a pilot survey while the country is in transition to a federal structure. Thus, its importance should be broadened. Rather than protesting and amending the results after its completion, the census should be an issue of public discussion right now so that the historically discriminated indigenous nationalities and other groups should not be further denied their opportunities and privileges. Nepal has ratified the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (No. 169) of the International Labour Organization in 2007; however, the state is now faltering for its implementation of the convention. A monitoring committee has been set up by the indigenous nationalities for the implementation of the convention. This committee should play interventional role for the benefits of all indigenous groups. Informed indigenous nationalities youths should get involved locally to aware respondents for their responses to census teams. The youths should play effective representational and participatory role to clear out the differences between the claims of indigenous nationalities to represent half of the population while the official figures only show 37%.
Edited and translated from Mina Shrestha’s article published on the Kantipur national daily by Prabindra Shakya. Mina Shrestha is the Central Member of the Youth Federation of Indigenous Nationals (YUFIN). Prabindra Shakya is student of Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies (MAINS) 2010 at Sungkonghoe University, Seoul
1. “Racial Discrimination toward the Indigenous Peoples in Nepal”, Non-Government Report for the Third World Conference against Racism (WCAR) – 2001 presented at the National Conference of the NPC in Kathmandu on April 26, 2001. http://members.fortunecity.com/dharantimes/ethnic5.htm (Accessed 16 Oct 2010).
2. “Report on Indigenous Peoples' Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in Nepal (IPHR)” prepared by NGO Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities (NGO-FONIN) with financial and reporting guidelines of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). http://cosfonad.blogspot.com/2009/06/report-on-indigenous-peoples-human.html (Accessed 16 Oct 2010).
3. Indigenous Peoples are called Indigenous Nationalities in Nepal as the Nepali state previously identified them only as nationalities according recognition of their difference, until formal recognition only in 1999. Nationalities always asserted themselves as Indigenous Peoples and those with distinct cultural identities, languages, traditional religions, customs and cultures, traditional territories, and those who do not fall under the traditional four-fold Hindu varna classification.
4. See Personal Details section, question no. 9 of the draft questionnaire, National Census 2011, Central Board of Statistics, Nepal.
5. See Annex 2 of Submission of Durban Review Conference (DRC) Follow-up Committee Nepal, Contribution under the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. http://www.inseconline.org/pics/1278389925.pdf (Accessed 22 Oct 2010).
Figures taken from National Federation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) http://www.nfdin.gov.np/ and Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) http://www.nefin.org.np/
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