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Sense of belonging at last for Nepalis in Uttaranchal
DEHARADUN, INDIA, DEC 17 - Nepalis living in Uttaranchal of India are overwhelmed by euphoria as the government declared reservation status for all Nepalis on November 9, the date that marks the third year of its autonomous separation from Uttar Pradesh.
The Nepali communities, though living in the state for decades, were barred from employment in the state in the absence of gazetted reservation recognition for its members.
With the declaration of the provision, Nepalis in Dehradun, the state capital of Uttaranchal, have already taken out huge rallies in appreciation of the government’s decision.The Gorkha Democratic Front and other Nepali organisations in the state had, since 1992, been lobbying for the provision of Other Backward Class (OBC) status for Nepalis in north-western India as similar to the status granted in the northeast.
According to the Uttaranchal Uttar Pradesh Civil Service Act 1994 and the Amendment Order’s clause 13 of 2001, Nepalis are finally included in the educational and technical fields for employment in the state.The Nepalis, living there for hundreds of years, are now genuinely feeling their existence as per their castes and ethnic origins that are being recognised by the official provision.
Along with the provision of reservation, the government has also decided to computerise the 50-years-old Gorkha Military College.
According to the new provision, study of Nepali as a subject and its curriculum will also be introduced from the lower secondary level, and a Nepali teacher shall be provided in case there are 25 students for the subject at the primary levels.
The government has also provided with Rs. one million to renovate the Gorkhali Reformation Meeting Hall, which is regarded as the centre of Nepali cohesion in the state. The erstwhile His Royal Highness Narendra Shumsher JB Rana had constructed the building in 1938.
Lieutenant C. B. Thapa, chairman of the Reformation Hall, said that 14 per cent of the total 50 per cent reservation quota has been allotted for Nepalis in the state. Only Nepalis of Mongoloid heritage were given such priority in India previously.
Thapa also informed that Pawan Kumar Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim, too, was demanding the provision of OBC to Indian citizens of Nepali origins. He said that Nepalis should henceforth prepare themselves to compete for the facility obtained from the state.
Uttaranchal’s Chief Minister Narayan Dutta Tiwari has already been invited to a number of feasts organised by the Nepalis to celebrate the occasion of being recognised for reservation and given the OBC status.Hira Singh Bista, a state minister, informed The Kathmandu Post that the government was always striving to provide more facilities to the Nepalis.
"We had already given our word for the provision after the formation of the Uttaranchal State. So we did it," Bista said.
He also said that the government would provide other essential facilities to the Nepalis in the state.
Hanu SJB Rana from Chakrata Road said that he felt proud of being a Nepali after five decades. "Nepalis feel proud of being so because of their OBC status here," he opined.
Along with him, all other Nepali residents living along the Mahakali and Yamuna rivers feel proud with the provision that finally gives them a sense of belonging in the newly-born Indian state.Posted on: 2003-12-18 04:26
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