'Indigenous' Status Should be Given to Natives to Safeguard Their Identity and Culture: Pramod Boro

Guwahati, August 9, 2019:

The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August each year to protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection. It was first pronounced by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1994, marking the day of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, in 1982.

Indigenous people across the world are observing the day, including the people in India's Northeastern States.

Speaking to Inside Northeast, All Bodo Student's Union leader, Pramod Boro said, "There is no constitutional use of this term, and we are deprived because of that. In other countries, the indigenous people have rights. In India, they have no rights as there is no clear definition of the term. Thus, I believe that the Government of people should categorize the natives of the lands as 'indigenous'. Marking the people as 'indigenous' would safeguard their identity, culture, as well as interests of the people."

Meanwhile, in Nepal, people from various communities of the country observed the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples by organising a protest rally from Bhrikuti Mandap (Bwojyaa Khya in Nepal Bhasa) to Maitighar Mandala (Fibwa Khya) today.

Join us as we continue the awareness campaign to preserve the only Ramsar site in Assam which is facing immense threats (A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention). We need your help to preserve this site of great ecological importance. Join the #LetsSaveDeeporBeel campaign and tweet about it, and do tag us on Twitter. It is time to create awareness.