Kathmandu: Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Tapa Bahadur Magar, has emphasized the importance of preserving the languages present in Nepal. During an interaction on Nepal’s National Action Plan on the International Indigenous Languages Decade (2022-2032), organized to mark the 10th establishment day of the Language Commission, Magar highlighted the need for the Language Commission to incorporate various languages into official use, underscoring that language preservation is a collective responsibility.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Vice-Chairperson of the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities, Ramesh Gurung, urged relevant bodies to adopt a one-door system approach to protect languages that are nearing extinction. He stressed the importance of providing education in mother tongues.
Indigenous intellect Parashuram Tamang expressed concern over the prioritization of a single language in a linguistically diverse country. Chairperson of the Indigenous Nationalities Commission, Ram Bahadur Thapa, suggested that both Tribhuvan University and the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities should receive support to safeguard languages, emphasizing the need for collective involvement in language preservation.
Additionally, Chairperson of the Languages Commission, Dr. Gopal Thakur, called for an extensive linguistic survey of the languages spoken in Nepal. The National Census 2078 reports that Nepal is home to 142 castes, 124 languages, and 10 religious sects.