Gurung and Magar languages to become official in Gandaki Province

KATHMANDU: The Gandaki Province government is preparing to make Gurung and Magar languages official languages of the province.

Minister for Social Development, Bindu Kumar Thapa, announced that the process is underway, with a draft bill being developed to implement this initiative.

To gather public feedback, the ministry organized a consultation program in Damauli on Sunday, with additional suggestions being collected across the province.

The proposed measure is aimed at preserving, promoting, and developing Gurung and Magar languages, which are spoken by significant portions of the population in Gandaki.

Thapa said this move will simplify administrative processes and improve access to government services for communities speaking these languages.

The Language Commission in Kathmandu has recommended Magar and Gurung for official status, citing their suitability based on set criteria.

The Magar community constitutes 18.8 percent of Gandaki Province’s population, making it the second-largest group, while the Gurung community, representing 11 percent, ranks as the fourth-largest.

The bill is expected to be tabled in the provincial parliament during the upcoming winter session.