Kathmandu, March 12. Dalit NGO Federation which is the largest network of Dalit organizations organized yesterday the 11th March an interaction programme titled “Roles of Dalit Parliamentarians in raising the Dalit issue”. Speaking on the occasion Mrs. Anjana Bishunkhe, the only Dalit parliamentarian present stated that without the mitigation of current political problem that country is facing Dalit’s problems can not be solved. Because of the foreign power and palace trying to dismantle the achievement of people’s movement 2 our whole effort have to be put on against such force. As a result of that Dalit’s issues are not getting priority. However, she also informed that despite coming from different political backgrounds all the Dalit parliamentarians are united on Dalit issue as they cooperate with each other and provide feedback and suggestions as well to a Dalit Parliamentarians who get chance to speak. She highlighted the difficult situation that most of the parliamentarians are facing inside the parliament house as there are 329 members and in several days a turn comes to speak for three minutes. Within such a limited time it has been extremely difficult to raise the political and Dalit agenda together. She stressed the need to have movement on the street simultaneously so that the Government would listen to Dalits.

Speaking on the same occasion former member of interim constitution drafting committee and Vice chairman of NC Democratic Min Vishwakarma alleged that all the Dalit parliamentarians are not representing Dalit though they were nominated being Dalit. In Singh Durbar there are only parliamentarians of the different political parties as they only raise party agenda. For them republicanism and other party agenda are important not the Dalit agenda.

He also lambasted the agitating Dalits for their ineffectiveness as there is saying “Saprane Gharko Sanjh Sallaha, Bigranegharko Bihana Halla”, several meetings have taken place but resulting nothing as it has been more “Halla”.

The master of ceremony was Mrs. Renu Sijapati (Treasurer, DNF), welcome speech develivered by Tej Sunar (Secretary, DNF) and vote of thanks given by Ramlakhan Harijan (member, DNF).

Other speakers were Chakraman Vishwakarma (Dalit Rights Forum), Mr. Seval Ram (Dalit Upliftment Forum), Mrs. Rajan Bishwakarma (Vice President NC), Deuman Tumbahamphe from ML, Jitu Gautam from Mukti Samaj.

In his concluding remarks, chair of the interaction programme Mr. Bom Bahadur said that Maoist parliamentarians had assured to attend the programme but due to their differences over the issue of Dalit commission they did not. He conveyed his best wishes to the Dalit parliamentarians for their success.

Some questions were also asked from the floor to the Dalit dignitaries on various aspect of Dalit, such as surname, republicanism etc.

Report by Hira Vishwakarma

Also, reported as: Dalit NGO Federation Programme (www.insn.org )