Nepal-India Dalit Friendship Organization (NIDFO) forms its new executive committee - Ramdam re-elected as Chairman
Kathmandu, March 25. Nepal-India Dalit Friendship Organization (NIDFO) has formed its new executive committee amidst its general meeting. Mr. Om Prakash Ramdam is re-elected as its Chairman of 19 executive committee members. Mr. Moti Lal Nepali has been elected a new general secretary. The other elected portfolios of NIDFO are Mr. Trilok Narayan B.K. and Ms. Bishnu Pariyar as vice -chairpersons, while Mr. Om Prakash V.K. and Mr. ChandraKumar Gadal have been elected as the Treasurer and Secretary respectively. At the same occasion an advisory committee has also been formed under the leadership of Hon’ble Mr. Ramprit Paswan. The other members of the advisory committee are Former M.P. Mr. Bijul Vishwokarma, Mr. Padam Singh Bishwokarma, Ms. Mithai Devi Bishwokarma, Mr. Hira Bishwokarma and Mr. Ratna Bahadur Bagchand.
Congratulations the newly elected committee, Hon’ble Mr. Ramprit Pasawan among the various speakers who spoke in the general meeting said, “Th political vision of anyone may be different but the perspectives towards Dalits should be same among Dalit leaders.” He urged Dalit organizations to be more inclusive so that Terai Dalits also could get opportunity to work hand-in-hand with others engaged in the Dalit movement. He emphasized the need of education in Dalit villages, and praised the help of NASO Community to the family of Terai Dalits who were the victims in the incident of Kashmir. Former Chairman of National Dalit Commission Mr. Padam Singh Bishwokarma said, “The NIDFO should be most active so that there could be frequent visits and exchange ideas between the leaders of India and Nepal.”
Giving congratulations to the new committee, the representative of NASO Committee Mr. Krishna Sob appreciated the effort of NIDFO and said whoever live abroad must remember his/her past experiences in Nepal and should contribute to their people and country as well. Advisor Mr. Hira Bishwokarma said, “We are not being able to take advantages from vast potential of Indian government’s cooperation in contrast to our good relation with Dalit leaders and ministers of India.” He stressed the need of NIDFO to play effective role to draw the attention of Indian government towards the issue of Nepalese Dalits through its embassy in Nepal. The new Treasurer Mr. Om Prakash V.K. gave a glimpse of the historical relationship existing between Indian and Nepalese Dalit leaders, and focused on the emergence of NIDFO to explore the vast potential of Indian cooperation for the benefit of Nepali Dalits. The other members who also spoke on the occasion were Mr. Shanker Bishwokarma, Mr. Desh Bahadur Sarki, Mr. Chandra Kumr Gadal, Mr. Sambhu Hazara Paswan and Ms. Bishnu Pariyar.
Concluding the meeting, Chairman of NIDFO Mr. Om Prakash Ramdam said, “Indian Dalit leaders have much affections towards Nepalese Dalits, and a little bit of efforts made by NIDFO may go a long way bringing a lot benefits to Nepalese Dalits.”
The newly elected General Secretary Mr. Moti Lal Nepali had conducted the meeting and promised to go ahead with most valuable aspirations and guiding ofAdvisors and Committee.
Report by:
Om Prakash VK
To be candid, there has not been any substantially tangible benefit that Nepali Dalits have been able to draw from Nepal-India Dalit relationship to date, despite the excellent relations existing between Dalit leaders of the two countries.
Now is the time, when the NIDFO can be much more proactive asking Indian Government to provide specifically targeted massive programs for Nepali Dalits. India emerging as an economic power of international order, she is now capable of providing any resources needed for the upliftment of Nepalese Dalits. Unfortunately, because of our own weakness of not asking any favor from India so far, we haven’t seen any specific Indian cooperation program that could impact significantly on the socio-economic conditions of Nepali Dalits.