Landlord evicts three Dalit students

Nepal

KHOTANG: Dalit activists in Khotang have condemned and sought action against a so-called higher caste family for driving out three Dalit students, who were preparing for the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations, out of their house because of their caste, in Simpani, a few days ago.

Tekraj Bishwokarma, Bijaya Bishwokarma and Amin

Bishwokarma of the Janata Higher Secondary School in Batase had reached Jitendra Khadka’s house in Simpani on March 19, on the eve of their exams. The deal was they would pay Rs 800 each for lodging during the examination period. However, they were driven out of the house on the same night after the landlord came to know about their caste.

However, their school principal and others helped them find another shelter. They are now taking their exams from Shankar Khadka’s house in Simpani itself.

Principal Hembar Basnet of Janata HSS lamented that his students were demoralised by the discrimination meted out to them when they were preparing for the exams. He further informed that about 40 Dalit students from his school were taking the examinations from Simpani Higher Secondary School exam centre this year.

Chairperson of Nepal Rastriya Dalit Kalyan Sangh, Batase, Bal Bahadur BK condemned the discrimination against students just because of their caste.

While Simpani exam centre superintendent Rajan Prasad Dhakal disavowed the incident, the concerned family have denied discriminating against the students.

Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE