Nepal to give millions citizenship through new law

KATHMANDU, Sep 7 (Reuters) Nepal plans to grant citizenship to millions of people living in the country by changing a law which only gave that right to children whose father was a Nepali, a government minister said today.

Under present law, children -- whose mothers are Nepali but fathers are foreigners -- are not recognised as nationals of the Himalayan nation.

While they have residency rights, they cannot work, own businesses or have property rights, forcing most to use falsify official documents and use fake names.

Industry Minister Hridayesh Tripathi said a draft law had been finalised allowing children born before April 13, 1990 -- when Nepal ended decades of absolute monarchy and established democracy -- to gain citizenship if either parent was Nepali.

''This is a big decision,'' Tripathi told Reuters. ''If implemented honestly this will resolve an old problem which was getting complex every year,'' he said.

The change would benefit up to six million people mainly living in Nepal's southern plains whose problem was ignored by subsequent governments, Tripathi said.

Most are children of female migrant workers and prostitutes who regularly cross the 1,750-km open border with India under a 55-year-old treaty which allows nationals of the two countries to live and do business in the other's territory.

Tripathi said the government would seek parliament approval for the draft law by the end of the year.

But some lawyers have criticised the plan.

''It is constitutionally and practically wrong,'' said Bal Krishna Neupane, a leading lawyer and activist.

''This will result in foreigners mainly Indians, Chinese and Kashmiris getting citizenship which could make Nepalis a minority.

The impoverished nation is home to 26 million people.

REUTERS DKA BS1353