Kailari Rural Municipality in Kailali District has enacted the Tharu Indigenous Peoples Cultural Protection Act, 2026 to protect, preserve, and promote the cultural heritage of the Tharu Indigenous community. The Act safeguards the Tharu language, customs, festivals, traditional attire, indigenous knowledge, and culturally significant lands.
The legislation also promotes research, documentation, and the establishment of cultural centers and museums to preserve and showcase Tharu heritage. It provides for a dedicated institutional body to coordinate cultural conservation efforts and promote Indigenous-led tourism initiatives.
Furthermore, the Act encourages community-based tourism through homestays, cultural villages, eco-tourism, and cultural festivals, supported by the development of necessary infrastructure. The Act also establishes a special fund, financed through government allocations and other lawful sources, to support the long-term preservation of Tharu culture and the sustainable development of Indigenous-led tourism in Kailali District.
