The Foundation is seeking a debate on the draft in order that it could be adopted before this year end. Globalisation with all its attendant shortcomings has one advantage. It is kindling a desire for preservation of ethno-cultural identity by all communities. There is a general feeling that minorities right to be different must be respected. Discrimination against them should come down and they should have the opportunities for development, participation in national governance.
Minorities have several variants.
National minorities are those who share the territorial space with the majority but are of different ethnic origin. Religious and linguistic minorities are those who differ from the majority in their traditional way of life. National minorities who have been living with majority for centuries but became a minority because of the redrawing of national boundaries. The refugees are also considered minorities for certain purposes in this paper. The list is exhaustive.