LALITPUR: Finance Minister Rameshwor Prasad Khanal has said empowering citizen does not weaken government.

Inaugurating the Indigenous Nationalities’ Knowledge Conference here Sunday, Minister Khanal said empowering citizens with rights is the foundation of an inclusive democracy. “Protection and promotion of culture, language and costumes of indigenous nationalities must be given priority,” Minister added.

In his view, special policy and laws are required to protect the identity of the aboriginal and ethnic communities. The government is committed to enforcing the constitutional rights of them, he added.

On the occasion, Commission Chairman Ram Bahadur Thapamagar complained that the Article 56 (5) of the Constitution was not implemented. It has the provision of protected, and autonomous areas relating to cultural preservation.

The knowledge conference must empower ethnic communities which, he argued, would facilitate implementation of constitution.

The event continues till Monday. Various working papers were presented on the rights of indigenous people, including constitution the provision on protection of culture in the conference.