Impacts national policies on indigenous people livelihood in Nepal: A case study of the Raute community

Abstract

Aim: This study’s main objective was to critically review the relevant policies that are implemented among Indigenous peoples of Nepal and how these policies impact their lives. In particular, this paper examines how policies have affected the livelihoods of the Raute community.Method: The current research adopted a descriptive approach. The targeted population was the Raute community, found in Mid Far-Western development regions of Nepal, who appear to have been most affected by changing social and political structures to highlight the implications of international law and domestic policies.Findings: Evidence from different regions of the world, including Africa, Latin American and Asia, indicates that national policies have often placed little emphasis on the protection of indigenous peoples and their knowledge. The indigenous peoples, categorized as Adivasi Janajati, make up approximately 37.2 percent of the Nepalese population. Despite constituting a significant proportion of the population, the dominant groups have marginalized them. The dominant groups have marginalized the Indigenous people in terms of land, territories, resources, language, culture, customary laws, and political and economic opportunities.Implications/Novel Contribution: Even though Nepal has ratified ILO Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, the newly promulgated Constitution of 2015 has not enshrined the indigenous people’s rights. It is yet to be seen how this new constitution and national Policylaws respond to this ILO Convention’s provisions.