The Concept of Dalit Parliament in the Making

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An informational Report by Ganesh BK

दलित संसद किन?

दलितहरुको संसद दलित अधिकारको आन्दोलनमा समर्पित व्यक्तित्वहरु र यिनका शुभचिन्तकहरुको अनुभव आदानप्रदान गर्ने साझा थलो हो । इतिहासदेखि थाती रहेका दलित सवालहरुलाई बहस ल्याउने र राज्यलाई दबाब दिने उद्देश्यले दलित संसदको आयोजना गर्ने कार्यको थालनी राष्ट्रिय दलित नेर्टवर्क नेपालले २०६० देखि धनगढीमा गरेको हो । यस संसदको शुरुआतमा पहिलो संसदको उद्घाटन पर्ूव प्रधानमन्त्री शेरबहादुर देउबाले गर्नु भएको थियो । दोश्रो संसदको उद्घाटन राष्ट्रिय सभाका उपाध्यक्ष रामप्रीत पासवानले गर्नुभएको थियो भने तेश्रो संसदको उद्घाटन राष्ट्रिय दलित आयोगका निवर्तमान अध्यक्ष भागवत् विश्वासीले गर्नुभएको थियो । यी तीनवटै संसद अत्यन्तै भव्यताका साथ औपचारिक संसद नभएका बखत सञ्चालन भएका थिए ।

यस संसदको मूल उद्देश्य दलित अधिकारका आन्दोलनलाई थप सशक्त बनाउन जनमत सिर्जना गर्नु, दलित सवालमा बहस सन्चालन गर्नु, देशका विभिन्न भागमा उठेका आन्दोलनको संस्थागत गर्नु, नीति निर्माता, राजनीतिक दलहरु र राज्यलाई दवाब सिर्जना गर्नु, दलित आन्दोलनलाई विचारधारात्मक स्प्ाष्टता, अधिकारमुखी अभियानसहितको संर्घष्ाशील जनसंगठनको निर्माण गर्नु र नेपाली दलित आन्दोलनमा अन्तर्रर्ााट्रय ऐक्यबद्धता जुटाउनु रहेको छ ।

आगामी मंसिर २३ र २४ गते काठमााडौंमा हुन गइरहेको चौंथो दलित संसद यस्तो सुनांैलो अवसरमा छंदैछ । हाल शान्ति वार्ता सम्पन्न भई शान्ति सम्झौता भएको छ । संविधानसभामार्फ नयांसंविधान निर्माण हुन निश्चित भएको छ । अन्तरिम संविधान अन्तरिम संसद र अन्तरिक सरकार बन्दैछ । केन्द्रीकृत राज्यप्रणालीलगायतका परम्परागत संरचनाहरु पुनःसंरचना हुंदैछन् । मुलुक छुवाछूतमुक्त र धर्म निरपेक्ष घोषणा भएको अवस्था छ । दलित आन्दोलन सशक्त भएको छ । अन्तर्रर्ााट्रय शक्ति, राजनीतिक दल, नागरिक समाज, सञ्चारकर्मी, मानव अधिकारकर्मीहरु दलितका पक्षमा छन् । यस्तो सुनौलो अवसर दलित आन्दोलनले कहिल्यै पाएको थिएन । त्यही समयमा हुन गईरहेको दलित संसदमा भारतीय दलित नेताहरु, राजनीतिक दलका प्रमुख नेताहरु, नागरिक समाजका अगुवाहरु, दलित आन्दोलनका नेताहरुको उपस्थितिमा देशका १४ अञ्चलका झण्डै ४५ देखि ५० जिल्लाका सहभागीहरु हुनेछन् र आगामी संविधानसभाको स्पष्ट खाका निर्माण हुनेछ ।

दर्ुइ दिनसम्म सञ्चालन हुने संसदमा पहिलो दिन पीडितहरुले आफ्ना अनुभवहरु आवाजहिनहरुका आवाज कार्यक्रममा राख्नेछन् । त्यही आधारमा भारतीय दलित नेता र पाटीका शर्ीष्ास्थ नेताहरु नागरिक समाजका अगुवाहरुले सम्बोधन गर्नुहुनेछ । सोही दिन टीकाराम पार्की मानव मर्यादा पुरस्कार वितरण हुनेछ र आगामी संविधानसभा मार्फ बन्नुपर्ने संविधानको खाका प्रस्तुत गरेर सहभागीहरुबाट पारित हुनेछ । दोश्रो दिन भूमी, आरक्षण, दलित आन्दोलन, राज्यको पुनःसंरचना र राजनीतिक दलहरुको भूमिका बारेमा अति जरुरीका प्रस्तावहरु पेश भई पारित हुनेछन् । सामापनमा राजनीतिक दलका केन्द्रीय समितिमा भएका दलित नेता तथा नागरिक समाजका अगुवाहरुले सम्बोधन गर्नेछन् र घोषणापत्र जारी हुनेछ ।

दलित संसदको कार्यक्रम

पहिलो दिन:

उद्घाटन समारोह
आवाहीनहरुको आवाज
टीकाराम पार्की मानव मर्यादा पुरस्कार वितरण
प्रमुख वक्ताहरुको सम्बोधन
संविधानको ड्राफ्ट प्रस्तुत र पारित
वक्ताहरुद्वारा सम्बोधन

दोश्रो दिन

प्रस्तावहरु पारित
घोषणापत्र पारित
वक्ताहरुबाट सम्बोधन
समापन
प्रस्तुकर्ता:
गणेश विक
Ratriya Dalit Network (RDN), Nepal

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From the Nepaldalitinfo Moderator’s Desk:

If all stakeholders of Dalit movement in Nepal take it seriously, the concept of Dalit Parliamment will have been seeded tomorrow (December 9) at 11:30 am at Nepal Rasatra Bank Bankers’ Club Auditorium in Thapathali, Kathmandu, as they are invited to attend Dalit Parliament called by a number of organizations including Rastriya Dalit Network (RDN) Nepal at this time and venue. This is said to be a ‘moke’ but a symbolic parliament, and there will be no restriction for all the Dalits and like-minded people to participate in the two-day long programme, according to Ganesh BK who has informed the nepaldalitinfo network about this event.

From the perspective of Dalit movement in Nepal, there is indeed a great need for a real Dalit Parliament, which can embrace all Dalit political forces in the country. This is particularly a need of this time to exhibit a strongest possible representation of Dalits, when a process of framing an interim constitution leading to formation national interim parliament and its government has began with the ultimate goal of carrying out constituent assembly election to be held sometime next year.

What we have seen in the recent developments is that all the Dalit political forces in the country have been absorbed by the national political parties into their respective Dalit wings as their sister organizations. This disintegration of Dalit forces has had direct negative impact on consolidating the ongoing Dalit movement into a single force. Dalit political forces are clearly divided; there is no doubt about it, and this is not something that is unexpected. It is natural that Dalit people like the people of any other ethnic groups cannot be expected to have one single ideological affiliation under one banner of a single political party, especially in the era of multiparty democracy of present day society. The peoples’ minds are diverse as many as the people themselves. They can have diverse political ideologies, and can be affiliated to any political line of their closest leaning. This must be accepted by one and all. However, Nepal’s Dalit movement has a single agenda to bring all well deserved full rights to Dalit Karmajans. And, this agenda is a meeting point for all Dalit political forces, no matter how they may differ in the rest of their political agenda as per their own political party line. Therefore, this meeting point makes the concept of Dalit Parliament all the more relevant to serve as the single platform to address the Dalits’ single agenda, which everyone agrees to at the minimum.

The concept of Dalit Parliament must be moved forward with greatest seriousness and strength by one and all. If all the stakeholders of Dalit movement can get together in a series of proposed Dalit Parliament leading to a serious discussion, that will be the beginning of the real representative Dalit Parliament in Nepal, which must be demanded to be recognized by the new Constitution of Nepal formed by the Constituent Assembly. In a nationally recognized Dalit Parliament, of which the suggested name would be National Assembly of Dalit Karmajans (Rastriya Dalit Karmajan Shabha or simply Rastriya Karmajan Shabha). This shall not just be an another Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). This will be the supreme authority to represent the voices and rights of Dalit Karmajan people of Nepal. The formation of this national assembly shall be by democratic elections from all constituencies. All political parties can field their own candidates from all constituencies in the election for National Assembly Members (NAMs). There shall be also independent candidates like in any democratic election. This shall be a single united politically representative body to watch and deal all the issues of Dalits, and negotiate with the government for all Dalit rights, responsibilities, compensation packages including reservation and necessary law at all levels. The NAMs, who are essentially national leaders of Dalits as such are not automatically MPs representing Dalit communities, but those who win both the elections of National Parliament as well as National Dalit Parliament can hold both positions. From the Government side, National Dalit Commission, which must be a Constitutional Body, will be negotiating with National Dalit Assembly. This is the structure of the kind that Dalit population shall need eventually to make themselves fully inclusive and empowered at all levels.

It is clear that Dalit population could not put forth their rights issues as too strong a case in the formation of Nepal’s Interim Constitution which is currently on the offing. They relied too much on the seven Parliamentary Parties and Maoists for their mercy. However, it is expected that some space will be given to Dalits during the interim period. And, whatever Dalits may get during the interim period shall by no means be enough for the space that their population deserve in the country, by simple measure of the magnitude of their population. We need to put forth a manifold stronger front to acquire the space that Dalits as a significant segment of Nepal’s population deserve. Only way to achieve this exclusively representative front is to form a formal Dalit Parliament.

Therefore, all Dalit leaders are called upon to congregate at Thapathali to seed the concept of Dalit Parliament, and move on from that point forward. Meanwhile, all Dalit intellectuals are also invited for a wide debate on this issue.

Unite All Dalits! Go to Thapathali this weekend!

DPR
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What a Dalit intellectual has to say:

I also very much support the idea of Dronaji. Since I attended briefly the Dalit parliament, I would like to
share my views on it.

The concept of Dalit parliament is great in itself. While most of the Kathmandu based organizations are sleeping when we have to wake and shout on our agenda, as all of us are very clear that other than sticking to traditional Balighare pratha in politics it will be foolish on our part to expect so much favour from the existing political parties. Yes, they will nominate one or two Dalits in the forthcoming parliament but they are not going to do much. Those nominate will be serving the interest of their masters than the interest of Dalits.

In such a situation a great pressure from all parts of Dalit movement is required. From that point of veiw the yesterday’s Dalit parliament was good. But in other way other than calling it Dalit parliament it is the same old traditional programme. As other than delivering the speeches and crying for the help there was nothing substantial. Since Ganesh and his organization has the 3 years experience of organizing the same, it would have been nice had it been organized in a real parliament way. The yesterday’s session should have been called the opening day rather than mixing it with agenda of different sectors.

Any way I again congratulate Ganeshji for organizing such event in capital while all so called Kathmandu based big Dalit organizations are sleeping.

Hira Vishawakarma
Sun, 10 Dec 2006 06:17:48, Kathmandu
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Dalits in interim statute draft panel unable to raise voice: Leaders

Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu, December 10:

State minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Urmila Aryal and CPN-UML central committee member Shanta Manavi today criticised Dalit representatives in the Interim Constitution Dra-fting Committee for being unable to fetch anything for deprived community.
It was a ‘tit-for-tat game’ between speakers at an interaction on “Issues of Dalit Human Rights” organised by Dalit NGO Federation. The speakers were ‘urging’ each other to fight for the rights of the Dalits. The function was organised to mark 58th International Human Rights Day.
Dalit speakers urged state minister Aryal and Manavi to raise their voice for the Dalit communities in a rather aggressive tone. Aryal and Manavi suggested the victims pressurise the government.

“I am probably the first person to begin politics by raising the issues of the Dalits,” Aryal said, adding that she would do her best to support the cause of the downtrodden communities.

“What did Min Bahadur Biswokarma (representative for the Dalits) say at the ICDC? Representation alone is not sufficient when the representatives cannot stand with the agendas,” Aryal said. Manavi said he should have called on the Dalit leadership if he was unable to negotiate. Aryal said that a budget of Rs 10 crores has been allocated for the Dalits which will be released by the Ministry of Local Development every year.
Former Member of Parliament Bijul Biswokarma said that even after the April movement, higher class people abound in the state mechanism.
“We won’t accept any form of autocracy,” he said, adding that the political leaders were also following the path of the king which was ‘unfortunate’

Posted by Suman Paudel

भारतीय दलित साहित्य अकादमीको २३औं राष्ट्रिय सम्मेलनका अवसरमा

भारतमा नेपाली दलित नेता तथा वरिष्ठ पत्रकारहरु पुरस्कृत

भारतीय दलित साहित्य अकादमीको २३औं राष्ट्रिय सम्मेलनका अवसरमा नेपालका दलित नेता तथा वरिष्ठ पत्रकार पुरस्कृत भएका छन् । दिल्लीको तालकटोरा इनडोर स्टडियमको एक भव्य समारोहवीच केन्द्रीय मन्त्री मीरा कुमार, सांसद रामदाश अठावाले र पर्ूव राज्यपाल डा. माता प्रसादले दोसल्ला ओर्डाई सम्मान गर्दै पुरस्कार प्रदान गर्नु भएको थियो ।

पुरस्कृत व्यक्तिहरुमा दलित वुध्द्धिजिवीका सल्लाहकार शंकर प्रसाद विश्वकर्मालाई डा. अम्वेडकर एक्सीलेन्सी अवार्ड प्राप्त भएको छ भने दलित वुद्धिजीवी प्रतिष्ठानका एक्जुकेटीभ वोर्ड सदस्य तथा वरिष्ठ पत्रकार चन्द्रकुमार गदाललाई डा. अम्वेडकर ब्रदरहुड अन्तर्रर्ााट्रय अवार्डद्धारा सम्मान गरिएको छ । पत्रकार गदालले विगत ३ दशकदेखि पत्रकारीताको माध्यमवाट दलित आन्दोलनमा विशिष्ठ योगदान पुर्याउदै आउनुभएको छ । वहां नेपालका दलित समुदायवाट व्यवसायिक पत्रकारीतामा स्व. टी. आर. विश्वकर्मा पछिको पहिलो व्यक्ति हुनुहुन्छ । त्यसरीनै पुरस्कृत व्यक्तिहरुमा तेजसुनार र राम सुभाग हरिजन सेवा पदकवाट पुरस्कृत हुनुभएको छ । त्यसैगरी डा. अम्वेडकर फेलोसिपवाट हरिओम विश्वकर्मा, महेन्द्र कुमार विश्वकर्मा, विरवहादुर किसान, र्सर्ूयवहादुर वुढापृती, लोकदर्शन विश्वकर्मा, जगत विश्वकर्मा लगायतका १५ जना सम्मानित हुनुभएको छ ।

नेपाल भारतका दलित समस्या समान छन -ओम प्रकाश विश्वकर्मा

नेपाल र भारतका दलितहरुको समस्या समान रहेकाले इतिहासको अनन्तकाल देखिनै दर्ुइ देशवीच सुमधुर सम्वन्ध रहिआएको छ । त्यसैले नेपालको दलित आन्दोलनका सवालमा भारतीय देलित नेताहरुवाट सहयोग र र्समर्थनको अझ आवश्यक रहेकोमा कुनै कमि हुने छैन । उक्त कुरा दलित प्रतिनिधि मण्डलका नेता ओम प्रकाश विश्वकर्माले वताउनु भएको हो । वहाँले भारतीय दलित साहित्य अकादमीको २२ औं राष्ट्रिय सम्मेलनको समापन समारोहलाई सम्वोधन गर्दै वताउनु भएको हो ।

प्रतिनिधि मण्डलका नेता तथा नेपाल भारत दलित मैत्री संघका अध्यक्ष श्री रामदाम विश्वकर्माले भन्नुभयो - विगत ६० वर्षेखि नेपालमा जातीय भेदाभाव र छुवाछुत विरुद्ध चल्दै आएको आन्दोलन प्रति नेपाल सरकारले अझसम्म चासो देखाएको छैन । तर्सथ अव प्रगतिशिल आरक्षण र विशेष अधिकार प्राप्तिका लागि मित्र शक्तिहरुवाट हामी नेपाली दलितहरुले सहयोग र्समर्थनको अपेक्षा गरेका छौं । नेपालमा अहिले राजनैतिक परिवर्तन भएको अवस्थामा अन्तरिम संविधान , अन्तरिम संसद र अन्तरिम मन्त्रीमण्डल वन्दैछ । संविधान सभाका चुनावको माध्यमवाट स्थायी शान्तिको लागि प्रयास भैरहेको छ । तर् ती निकायहरुमा दलितहरुलाई सहभागिता गराउन राज्य गम्भिर नदेखिएकोले अन्तर्रर्ााट्रय क्षेत्रवाट दवाव दिन पनि उहाँले जोडदिनु भयो ।

सम्मेलनको उद्घाटन समारोहलाई सम्वोधन गर्दै पर्ूव सांसद विजुल कुमार विश्वकर्माले भन्नुभयो-नेपालमा लोकतन्त्र प्राप्तिका लागि भारतीय नेताहरुवाट जसरी सहयोग भयो, त्यसरी नै नेपालका दलितहरुलाई हक अधिकार तथा दलितका समस्या सुल्झाउन भारतीय दलित नेताहरुले जोडदार रुपमा सहयोग पुर्याउनु पर्दछ । किनभने दलितका समस्याका सवालमा राज्य अझैपनि गंभिर नदेखिएकाले पर्ूव सांसद विश्वकर्माले उक्त कुरामा जोड दिनु भएको थियो ।

डिसेम्वर १ र २ तारिख तयाँ दिल्लीको तालकटोरा इनडोर इस्टीडियममा आयोजित उक्त सम्मेलनमा सहभागीका रुपमा नेपालवाट २७ सदस्यीय प्रतिनिधि मण्डल गएको थियो। सो प्रतिनिधि मण्डलको नेतृव ओम प्रकाश विश्वकर्मा रामदामले गर्नु भएको थियो । सम्मेलनमा भारतीय केन्द्रीय उर्जा मन्त्री शुसिल कुमार सिन्डे मुख्य अतिथिको रुपमा हुनुहुन्थ्यो भने केन्द्रीय सामाजिक न्याय तथा अधिकारिता मन्त्री श्रीमती मिरा कुमार अति विशिष्ठ अतिथिका रुपमा उपस्थिति हुनुहुन्थ्यो ।

दिल्लीकी मुख्य मन्त्री श्रीमती शिला दीक्षितले अध्यक्षता गर्नुभएको उक्त समारोहमा नेपाली दलित प्रतिनिधिहरु मध्ये केही व्यक्तिहरु अन्तराष्ट्रिय पुरस्कारवाट पुरस्कृत हुनु भएको थियो ।

नेपाल - भारत दलित नेतावीच छलफल

नेपाली दलित प्रतिनिधि मण्डलका नेता तथा नेपाल भारत दलित मैत्री संघका अध्यक्ष ओमप्रकाश विश्वकर्मा रामदामको नेतृव्वमा गएको नेपाली दलित प्रतिनिधि मण्डल र भारतीय वरिष्ठ दलित नेताहरुवीच आपसी समझदारी तथा समस्याका विषय माथि गम्भिर रुपमा छलफल भएको थियो । बिशेषगरी नेपालमा दलित समस्याका बिषयमा भारतीय नेताहरुले चासो राखेर जानकारी लिएका थिए ।

छलफलमा भारतीय दलित नेताहरुमा कन्द्रीय समाजिक न्याय तथा अधिकारिता मन्त्री श्रीमती मिरा कुमार, केन्द्रीय उर्जा मन्त्री शुसील कुमार सिन्डे, दिल्लीकी मुख्य मन्त्री शिला दीक्षित, सांसद रामदास अठवाले, पर्ूव केन्दीय मन्त्री चौधरी चादाराम, सिक्कीमका पर्ूव विधायक वी.वी. सिंह लोहार, अरुणाचल तथा हरियाणा राज्यका पर्ूव राज्यपाल द्धय डा. माता प्रसाद, वाबु परमानन्द, भारतीय दलित साहित्य अकादमीका राष्ट्रिय अध्यक्ष डा. सोहनपाल सुमनाक्षर, डा. अम्वेडकर दिल्ली प्रदेशका नेता शेर सिंह केन हुनुहुन्थ्यो ।

नेपाली प्रतिनिधि मण्डलका सदस्यमा पर्ूव सांसद विजुल कुमार विश्वकर्मा, शंकर प्रसाद विश्वकर्मा, वरिष्ठ पत्रकार चन्द्रकुमार गदाल, नेपाल भारत मैत्री संघका सदस्य दर्ुगावहादुर सुनार, र दलित कार्यकर्ता लोक दर्शन विश्वकर्मालगायतका प्रतिनिधि मण्डलका सदस्यहरुको उपस्थिति रहेको थियो ।

दलित प्रतिनिधि मण्डल स्वदेश फिर्ता

काठमाण्डौं । भारतीय दलित साहित्य अकादमीको २२ औं राष्ट्रिय सम्मेलनमा भाग लिई नेपाली दलित प्रतिनिधि मण्डल आज साझ यहाँ आइपुगेको छ । यही मंसिर १५ र १६ गते नयाँ दिल्ली को तालकटोरा इनडोर स्टडियममा आयोजित सम्मेलनमा सहभागिताको निम्ति २७ सदस्यीय प्रतिनिधि मण्डल वरिष्ठ दलित नेता तथा नेपाल भारत दलित मैत्री संघका अध्यक्ष ओम प्रकाश विश्वकर्मा रामदामको नेतृत्वमा त्यसतर्फगएको थियो । नेता रामदामको नेतृत्वमा गएको प्रतिनिधि मण्डलका सदस्यहरुमा पर्ूव सांसद विजुल विश्वकर्मा, दलित विकास समितिका उपाध्यक्ष सुन्दर विश्वकर्मा, नेपाल भारत मैत्रीसंघका सदस्य दर्ुगावहादुर सुनार, दलित संघकी उपाध्यक्ष राजन विश्वकर्मा, नेपाली काग्रेसका कृष्णवहादुर चुनारा लगायत डा.अम्वेडकर अन्तराष्ट्रिय पुरस्कारवाट सम्मानित व्यक्तित्वहरुमा शंकरप्रसाद विश्वकर्मा र चन्द्रकुमार गदाल प्रमुख रुपमा हुनुहुन्थ्यो ।

सो सम्मेलनवाट नेपालको दलित आन्दोलन प्रोत्साहीत भएको कुरा प्रतिनिधि मण्डलका नेता श्री रामदामले वताउनु भएको छ । अर्न्तराष्ट्रिय स्तरवाट नेपालीहरुले यस प्रकारका पुरस्कार प्राप्त गर्नु नेपाल राष्ट्रकै सम्मान भएको वताइएको छ भने नेपाल भारत वीचको सम्वन्ध अझ वढी गाडा भएको छ ।

सम्मेलनमा सहभागी विभिन्न मुलुकका प्रतिनिधिहरुसंग नेपाली प्रतिनिधि मण्डलको भेटघाट र दलितका समस्यावारे छलफल तथा विचार विमर्श भएकोे थियो । १५ र १६ गते मंसिरमा आयोजित उक्त २ दिने सम्मेलनले जातीय छुवाछुत, भेदभाव, आरक्षण र संरक्षण, दलितको धर्म परिवर्तन, दलित महिलाका समस्या लगायत विभिन्न विषयमा निर्ण्र्ाागरिएको थियो ।

त्यसरी नै जनचेतनाको व्यापक विकास गर्ने र सवै देशका सरकारहरुलाई दलितका समस्या समाधान गर्न दवाव दिने पनि सम्मेलनले निर्ण्र्ाागरेको छ । उक्त सम्मेलनवाट नेपालको दलित आन्दोलनका लागि उपलव्धीमुलक भएको कुरा नेता रामदामले जानकारी गराउनु भयो ।

समाचार संप्रेषण:
ओम प्रकाश विश्वकर्मा, अध्यक्ष नेपाल भारत दलित मैत्रि संघ
चन्द्रकुमार गदाल, सम्पादक- तलाश, युगदर्पण साप्ताहिक

Related news links:
Bishwokarma bags Ambedkar Award [ 2006-11-18 ]

NEPALESE DALIT WOMEN SPEAK OF VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION AT HOUSE OF COMMONS MEETING 28TH NOVEMBER 2006

“On Tuesday 28 November at an historic meeting in the House of Commons, London , Nepalese Dalit Manju Badi, from an ‘untouchable’ caste branded as prostitutes, gave first hand testimony on the extent and depth of the violence and discrimination Dalit women face in everyday Nepalese life. Dalits are considered the lowest of the low in the brutal caste system that rigidly divides South East Asian society. There are approximately 1.2 million Dalit women in Nepal - around 12.3 percent of the female population.”, says a press release by DALIT SOLIDARITY NETWORK UK and Minority Rights Group International.

Manju Badi was abandoned after 12 years by the father of her three children. He never told his family she existed and the couple lived apart. The same thing happened to Manju’s mother before Manju was born. Now Manju’s children face a life in poverty and without citizenship rights because their higher caste father will not admit they are his.

Nepalese Dalit filmmaker Anita Pariyar screened her documentary on the lives of Dalit women in Nepal . Nibha Singh, Nepali human rights activist, presented further evidence, on how Dalit women are forced into child marriage, are blamed for bad luck, have been forced to eat human faeces and that they suffer exploitation and violence from ‘higher caste’ men outside their communities as well as domestic violence in their own homes. Dalit children are consistently excluded from school and the community has little or no recourse to social justice. As Manju’s experience shows, they are affected generation after generation.

Durga Sob, President of the Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO) of Nepal urged the British government and international community to support the full participation of Dalit women in the political change sweeping Nepal at this time and to ensure their representation and strong voice in the new Constituent Assembly and political structures [Read key recommendations below]. She stressed the need to ensure that Dalits without citizenship are able to freely register as Nepali citizens in order to fully participate in the upcoming election and cast their vote. Independent monitoring by the EU or International community of the participation of Dalits in the election is essential.

Most importantly the Dalit Women highlighted the action that all Nepalese Dalit women are taking daily to change their own and the lives of their communities, to secure a life free of discrimination in Nepal. They call upon the Nepalese government to end caste and gender discrimination in all spheres of public and private life and to ensure that comprehensive laws to protect their rights are fully implemented and impunity against violence and discrimination is stopped – now.

For further information please contact:

Gina Borbas – Coordinator
Mob: 07710 146788
DALIT SOLIDARITY NETWORK UK
Tel: 020 7501 8323 Email: dalitsnuk@yahoo.co.uk
Registered Charity Number 1107022
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Key recommendations of the Seminar on the Human Rights of Dalit Women, House of Commons, 28th November 2006

Recommendations to the government of Nepal

• Citizenship – The government should establish an effective process to grant citizenship to all Nepali Dalits who have been denied citizenship, including the Badi Community, Madhesi and Tarai Dalits.

• Establish voter education programmes for Dalit women and other marginalized women, especially in rural areas, so that they are aware of the current political process and the importance of their participation as both voters and candidates for election.

• All political parties (including the Maoist party), should establish a process for ensuring that Dalit women can participate and stand for election to the constituent assembly as per the agreement.

• Ensure Dalit women’s representation within the 33% reservation for women.

• The government should pass a Law to abolish on untouchability at all levels and in any form - public or private - and ensure effective implementation of the law, including abolition of intra caste discrimination within Dalits.

• End the system of slavery called Haliya Pratha. Recognize those affected as bonded labourers and accepting this reality, release them from the debt and free them with a guarantee for their proper settlement.

• Ensure that Dalits, and Dalit women, are, proportionally and equitably, represented in all public institutions including the executive, legislature and judiciary at all levels.

• End impunity for violations of human rights committed against Dalits by the police, state and institutions of justice. Ensure all incidents are reported, filed and investigated fairly. For example, investigate the case of the late Daya Ram Pariyar, a Dalit staff member of the National Human Rights Commission who was killed.

Recommendations to the UK government and international organisations

• Ensure that in all contacts with the Nepali government, that the UK government pushes for an inclusive democracy in Nepal with the participation of Dalits and Dalit women, for example their participation in the interim legislature and all other new structures.

• Development agencies and international NGOs must ensure that their programmes effectively benefit Dalit women. Where Dalit women’s issues have not been taken into consideration, separate programmes should be implemented for them.

• Development agencies and international NGOs should ensure representation of Dalits and Dalit women amongst their staff and including at senior levels.

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Related articles:

Seminar on the Human Rights of Dalit Women in Nepal

Also, read UK Parliamentary debate on Caste Discrimination Overseas (Government Policy) at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm051122/halltext/51122h02.htm

Caste Discrimination: A Core Problem in Nepal’s Development

By D.P. Rasali

“Nepal, a South Asian state, strangely running with medieval-style state machinery even in the 21st century, has been long overdue for a total transformation for modernization.”

“In order to make the current sweeping changes meaningful for the sizeable chunk of oppressed people, a proclamation of an explicit apology must be made by the state for the past crime committed by the state against them. Moreover, the state must provide adequate compensation for all the sufferings they have gone through in the black history of Nepal.”

Click here for the full text of this article (in html format) andat the source e-bulletin (in pdf format>: Concern Nepal- A Newsletter of the Canada Forum for Nepal (CFFN)

प्रेश बिज्ञप्ति

मिति २०६०।११।५ गते रामेछाप जिल्ला रनास्लु गा.बि.स. वडा नं. ९ बस्ने ध्रुब विश्वकर्माको सोही जिल्लाको बेताली गा.बि.स. अर्न्तर्गत पर्ने महाकालि मन्दीरमा भाकल भएको हुंदा निजले आफ्ना ३५।३६ जना आफन्तहरु समेतलाई निम्ता गरी भाकल बुझाउन उक्त मन्दीर गई त्यहां रहनु भएका पूजारीले पूजाआजा सकिसकेपश्चात को यस दलित गैर सरकारी संस्था महासंघ तथा कानून ब्यबसायी बिमल विश्वकर्मा समेतले श्री ५ को सरकार प्रधान मन्त्री तथा मन्त्री परिषद्को कार्यालय, श्री ५ को सरकार गृह मन्त्रालय, श्री ५ को सरकार कानून न्याय तथा संसदिय ब्यबस्था मन्त्रालय, श्री ५ को सरकार स्थानिय बिकास मन्त्रालय र ७५ वटै जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालयहरु समेतको बिरुध्दममा र्सार्वजानिक सरोकारको रीट निबेदन सम्मानित श्री सर्बोच्च अदालतमा मिति २०६१ भाद्र ९ गते दायर गरेको थियो । उक्त रीट निबेदनमा बिपक्ष्ािहरुद्धारा दलित समुदायका मानिसहरुलाई थरको आधारमा नागरिकता प्रदान नगरी बाध्यात्मक रुपमा कथित पेशागत जात लेखि नागरीकता प्रमाण पत्र प्रदान गरेका कारण समाजमा मानविय सम्मानपर्ूण्ा जीवन बांच्च नपाईरहेको अवश्था, सोहि कारणले समेत गर्दा यस समुदायका मानिसहरुले बिभिन्न खाले समस्याहरु भोग्न परी राखेको यर्थातता, बिपक्ष्ािहरुद्धारा मानव अधिकारको विश्वब्यापि घोषणा पत्र, अर्न्तराष्टिय सन्धि महासन्धिहरु र संबिधान तथा कानूनहरुद्धारा प्रदान गरिएका हक अधिकारको उल्लंघन र तोकिएको दायित्वको बेवास्ता गरी थरको आधारमा नागरीकता प्रदान नगरी बाध्यत्मक रुपमा कथित पेशागत जातको आधारमा नागरिकता प्रदान गर्ने कार्य गरेकाले सो कार्यद्धारा दलित समुदायले हालसम्म पनि समाजमा स्वभिमानी र सम्मानपर्ूण्ा जीवन जीउन (Dignified & respected life) नसकिरहेकोले नेपाल अधिराज्यको संबिधान, २०४७ को धारा ११ बमोजिम् समानताको अधिकार तथा धारा १२ (१) बमोजिम् सम्मानित रुपमा बांच्न पाउने र बैयक्तिक स्वतन्त्रताको मौलिक अधिकारको उल्लंघन भैरहेकोले, दलित समुदायलाई समाजमा स्वभिमानी तथा सम्मानपर्ूण्ा जीवन जीउने वातावरण तयार गर्नको लागी अत्यावश्यक भएको हुनाले विपक्ष्ािहरुको नाममा मानव अधिकारको विश्वब्यापि घोषणा पत्र (UDHR) १९६५, नागरिक तथा राजनैतिक अधिकार सम्बन्धि अर्न्तराष्टिय अनुबन्ध (ICCPR) १९६६, आर्थिक सामजिक तथा सांस्कृतिक अधिकार सम्बन्धि अर्न्तराष्टिय अनुबन्ध (ICESCR) १९९६, सबै किसिमका जातिय भेदभाव उन्मूलन सम्बन्धि अर्न्तराष्टिय महासन्धि (ICERD) १९६५, नेपाल अधिराज्यको संबिधान, २०४७ को धारा ११,१२,२३ र ८८ (२) अनुसार निम्म मागहरु राख्दै दायर भएको थियो ।

-१) श्री ५ को सरकार गृह मन्त्रालय तथा जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालहरुलाई थरको आधारमा नगरिकता प्रदान गर्नु भन्ने ।
-२) श्री ५ को सरकार गृह मन्त्रालय तथा जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालयहरु उपर थर लेखी नागरिकता सच्याई दिनु भन्ने र उसको पहिले जात लेखिएको नागरिकता र हालको थर लेखिएको नागरिकताको ब्यक्ति एउटै हो भन्ने तथा पहिलेको नागरिकता बमोजिम् तयार भएका अन्य सम्पर्ूण्ा कागजपत्रहरुमा उल्लेखित ब्यक्ति एउटै हो भन्ने प्रमाण पत्र समेत प्रदान गर्नु भन्ने ।
-३) थरको आधारमा नागरिकता सच्याए बमोजिम् सम्बन्धित अन्य निकायमा सच्याउनु पर्ने अन्य कागज पत्र समेत सम्बधिन्त निकायले सच्याईदिनु पर्ने ।
-४) नागरिकता सिफारिस प्रदान गर्ने स्थानिय बिकास मन्त्रालय तथा सो अर्न्तगत स्थानिय निकायहरु र सम्बन्धित अधिकारीहरुलाई थरको आधारमा नागरिकताको सिफारिस लिन आए सो बमोजिम् सिफारिस प्रदान गर्नु भन्ने र
-५) श्री ५ को सरकार मन्त्री परिषद्, कानून न्याय तथा संसदिय ब्यबस्था मन्त्रालय र संसद समेतलाई थरको आधारमा नागरिकता प्रदान गर्न आवश्यक कानून बनाउनु भन्ने ।

उक्त रिट निबेदनको पेशि मिति २०६३ साल जेष्ठ १ गते भएकोमा सोहि दिन माननीय न्यायाधिसद्धय श्री खिलराज रेग्मी र श्रीमति गौरी ढकालको संयुक्तर् इजलासले बिभिन्न ऐन कानूनहरुमा भएका ब्यबस्था र बिभिन्न समयमा भएका श्री ५ को सरकारका मन्त्रि परिषद्को निर्ण्र्ााबमोजिम् निबेदकहरु थरको आधारमा नागरिकता माग्न आएमा सोहि ब्यहोराको नागरिकता प्रदान गर्नु, सिफारिस दिने निकायहरुले पनि माग बमोजिमको सिफारिस् प्रदान गर्नु र सच्याई पाऊं भनि निबेदन गरेमा समेत सच्याई पर्ठाईदिनु भनि सबै बिपक्षिहरुको नाममा परमादेशको आदेश जारी हुने फैसला गरेको छ । उक्त पैसलाले कैयौं बर्षदेखि दोश्रो दर्जाका नागरिक सरह ब्यबहार भोग्नु परेका दलित समुदायका मानिसहरुले पनि अब नाम थरमा गौरब गर्ने अवश्था आएको छ । उक्त मुद्धामा बिद्धान अधिवक्ताहरु श्री विमल विश्वकर्मा, राजन सुनार, भोजमान लाम्गादे, गोमति सुनार, श्याम कुमार विश्वकर्मा र अर्जुन कुमार बगाले लगायतका बानून ब्यबसायीहरुले बहस पैरवी गर्नु भएको थियो ।

भवदीय
तेज सुनार
कार्यकारी निर्देशक
दलित गैर सरकारी संस्था महासंघ

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प्रेश बिज्ञप्ति

यस दलित गैर सरकारी संस्था महासंघका का.वा. अध्यक्ष श्री टेक बहादुर रैका समेत बिरद्ध नेपाल सरकार प्रधान मन्त्री तथा मन्त्री परिषद्को कार्यालय समेतका बिरुद्ध पशुपति क्षेत्र बिकास कोष कार्यब्यबस्था नियमावली, २०५४ को नियम ३ को उपनियम १ मा भएको श्री पशुपतिनाथको पूजारी हुन ब्राम्हण जातिकोले मात्रै पाउने व्यबस्था नेपाल अधिराज्यको संबिधान, २०४७ को प्रस्तावना र धारा १ (१), धारा ११ को समानताको हकसंग र बिभिन्न अर्न्तराष्ट्रिय महासन्धिहरुसंग समेत बाझिएको हुनाले संबिधानको धारा ८८ (१) र (२) अनुसार अमान्य र बदर घोषित गरी संबैधानिक समानता स्थापित गर्न उत्पे्रषणयुक्त परमादेशको आदेश वा जो चाहिने आज्ञा, आदेश वा पर्ूर्जी जारी गरी पाउं भनि मिति २०६३।८।१२ मा दर्ता भएको रीट नं ००२२ आज मिति २०६३।८।१४ गतेको पेशी सूचिमा परी सुनुवाई हुंदा माननिय न्यायाधिस मीन बहादुर रायमाझीको एकलर् इजलासले बिपक्षीहरुको नाउंमा कारण देखाऊ आदेश जारी गरेको व्यहोरा जानकारीको लागि अनुरोध गर्दछौं ।

भवदीय
तर्ीथ बर्मा
कार्यकारी निर्देशक
दलित गैर सरकारी संस्था महासंघ

Far-western women demand end to discrimination

Narrating their heart-rending stories of gender-based discrimination and violence, women from far-western region have demanded immediate steps to end social inequalities at all levels of community.

“We work shoulder to shoulder with men but at the end of the day, they pay us Rs 80 compared to Rs 100 for men,” said Sitapati Chaudhary, a freed Kamaiya from Kailali district. She said that men spend money on alcohol and beat women while the women will have to take care of home and children.

Furthermore, Nirmala Aire from Doti district reciting her plight asked the state to ban alcohol. “In our village, boys as small as 14 years old are found drinking alcohol that is so easily found at Rs 15 per pouch.” She added that men resort to physical violence against women when they are drunk. Aire, along with Chaudhary, called on the authorities to prohibit drinking.

Aire also talked about the inhumane treatment meted out to women of far-western region in the name of a tradition called Chhaupadi whereby women have to live away from their home at an unhygienic shed for a week every month when they menstruate.

Speaking at a program organized by Sancharika Samuha, a women communicators’ group, Sita Bika, a lady from Dalit community of Doti district, complained that people from her community were being treated “worse than dogs.” She asked, “Where is the state? Aren’t we human beings?”

Another woman who wanted to conceal her name, wailed about the government and society’s apathy towards her plight. A mother of two children whose husband was killed by Maoists, she demanded compensation. “I have heard about peace agreements. But who will listen to our problems and help us?” she asked.

Another woman belonging to freed Kamaiya community from Bijayanagar Basti of Tikapur, Kailali added how state forces had used violence against them during conflict. “I have seen innocent persons being killed with my own eyes,” she said adding that Tharu youths were looked upon with eyes of suspicion by security forces during the conflict.

Addressing the program titled “Elimination of Violence Against Women: Concerns and Responsibilities” Sandra Beidas, Head of Protection, Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that there is now a huge challenge to create a safe, supportive and protective environment in which women and girls can come forward, talk about what has happened and seek help.

Beidas called for ending impunity for violence against women and girls, which she said is one of the most crucial ways of dealing with the problem. She also called for translating peace agreements and commitments “into clear policies, strategies and programs and with the resources to ensure their implementation.”

Babita Basnet, president of Sancharika Samuha, said a comprehensive partnership among all key stakeholders like government, NGOs, media and community was required for better results.

Alka Pathak, country director of CARE International Nepal, said she believed it is “our responsibility not choice” to help bring about positive transformation in the community. Source: www.nepalnews.com sd Dec 03 06