Hosted representatives from Tuva ethnic minority at the Commission

The Chief Commissioner Mr. Byambadorj Jamsran and Commissioner Ms. Oyunchimeg Purev have hosted a meeting with Tuva community representatives from Tsagaannuur soum, Khuvsgul province. Commissioner Ms. Oyunchimeg Purev had an informal open talk with them by listening to their life situation, implementation of the rights of ethnic minorities as well as realization of outcomes of a joint-project implemented by the Commission and Tuva ethnic minorities before. Tuva or Dukha communities are one of the Mongolian ethnic minorities. These representatives have made a long journey to the capital city Ulaanbaatar from taiga in Khuvsgul province to attend the 8^th Conference of National Association of Mongolian Food and Agriculture. Before heading back to their hometown, they wanted to meet their old acquaintance Commissioner Oyunchimeg Purev. During the meeting, they have mentioned that there is a number of issues that need to be addressed for them. For example, they have raised that there is a need to take necessary measures by the Government in relation to the following issues:

- to raise public awareness about livelihood and situation of people living in taiga;

- to respect a culture of Tuva ethnic minorities for maintaining a livelihood by herding reindeers;

- to provide elders of Tuva ethnic minorities with a same pension as herders;

- to include a representative from Tuva ethnic minority in self-governing local bodies and in decision-making process. They said that above-mentioned issues can be raised during a celebration of "Festival of 2000 reindeers” which is envisaged to be held in 2019. In addition, they have also discussed about an implementation of the President’s resolution on Tuva people.

As of today, there are only 470 Tuva or Dukha communities living in far western Khuvsgul province. The availability of pasture for reindeers that are main source of livelihood of Tuva reindeer community counts for only 3-4 percent as rest of 96 percent of territory of western and eastern taiga consist of mountains and rocks. Thus, there is a greater need to take studies on situation of Tuva communities as well as pastures for reindeers.