On behalf of the Nepalese people and well wishers of Nepal living in North America, Ms. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, a member of the NASO-Community and the leader of the delegation team, handed over the document containing the recommendations to Mr. Mahadev Yadav, a senior member of ICDC. The hand over was made in the presence of its Covenor Hon’ble Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal in their high office at Singha Durbar Kathmandu. The document emphasizes various justful provisions for Dalits in the upcoming Interim Constitution of Nepal. These previsions seek to guarantee Dalit rights, dignity, and advancement to ensure a peaceful and prosperous Nepal. As Ms. Pariyar read the document aloud at the meeting, there was a lot of discussion on it between the delegation team and the present ICDC members. Representing the ICDC were members Mr. Sambhu Thapa, Mr. Harihar Dahal, Ms. Pushpa Bhusal, Ms. Sushila Karki, Ms. Shanti Rai and Ms. Chhatra Kumari Gurung. Representing the delegation team were members Mr. Om Prakash VK from CDRD, Ms. Monique from Clark University, USA, Mr. Pradip Pariyar, Dinesh Pariyar, Bibek Regmi from DWO, Mr. Ram Nepali and Ms. Bindu Pariyar from EDWON and Mr. Sammi Kumar Shah from LANCAU. The discussion lasted for nearly one hour. The delegation team urged the ICDC to include the provisions in the interim constitution for the total and equal protection of human rights to every citizen, including Dalits. The leader of the 9 member delegation team, Ms. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, emphasized the need a system of active measures to empower Dalits of Nepal and urged the Committee to guarantee the provision of proportionate representation to Dalits on the basis of its population. Giving the example of the quota provisions of the Indian Constitution, one of the members of the delegation team Mr. Om Prakash VK advised the ICDC to follow the concept of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution, in order to establish social justice in Nepal. The ICDC member Mr. Sambhu Thapa assured the delegation team that the ICDC would try their best to achieve measures to ensure maximum Dalit representation in the constituent assembly. But Mr. is against the reservation while the principal demand of Dalit at present is reservation in all sectors of the state. Another member of the ICDC, Ms. Pushpa Bhusal, expressed their deep concern over Dalit issues and the senior member of the ICDC, Mr. Mahadev Yadav, said they were very sincere in ensuring Dalits rights in the upcoming interim constitution. The document was prepared by the NASO Community in alliance with ANLUS California, ANWA Washington DC, BANA Baltimore, Empower Dalit Women of Nepal (EDWON) Boston, Global Majority California, LANCAU California, and Nepaldaliinfo Int’l Network, Canada.

Report by Pradip Pariyar