Dalit leaders demand inclusion, opportunities
Kathmandu: Dalit leaders have demanded for a constitutional body to look into the issues concerning their community.
Speakers at a programme organized by Samata Foundation in the Capital on Friday urged stakeholders to ensure proportional representation of Dalit community in political parties and state mechanism as a mandatory provision through the constitution being drafted.
“Identity-based federalism is not what Dalit community demands for. For us, educational, economical, political and social issues are more important,” said Min Bahadur Bishwakarma, a member of the Constitution Assembly (CA) for Nepali Congress.
Although one-fifth of the Dalit population face humiliation, deprivation, political subjugation and social alienation, Bishwakarma said the Dalit community does
not want a separate state.
“That wouldn’t be reasonable thing to demand. Our demand is for inclusion and opportunities which should be ensured through the new constitution he said.
Mahendra P Lama, vice-chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University and a member of National Security Advisory Board of the Government of India, said that conflict among people would be reduced only through culture of equality, social justice and political participation.
Source: Kathmandu Post
