15 points declaration by Dalit Civil Society Organizations in Pokhara

Kathmandu, August 26- Dalit Civil Society Organizations and UNDP/CASU organized a Regional Conference Pokhara on “Dalit Participation in State Restructuring and Constituent Assembly” that was held on 23-24 August 2007 in the Western Region. The program was aimed at finding out Regional common issues of Dalits to be addressed in the forthcoming Constituent Assembly and State Restructuring process. The similar two regional conferences in Janakpur and Dang which are located at Mid-Central and Mid-Western Regions respectively have already been organized. Altogether six conferences have been scheduled to be organized all over the country, including five regional and one national to find out issues and agenda of Dalits for Constituent Assembly.

Based on in-depth discussion on the regional common issues of Dalits in the conference, a 15-point Dalits’ declaration has been announced by Dalit Civil Society Organizations at the end of the program.

The major points of declaration include following demands to be addressed in the State restructuring process and Constituent Assembly.

• Proportional representation of Dalits based on their population size in the CA Polls.
• Demand for proportional electoral system to be adopted by the sate.
• Guarantee of alternative employment by abolishing existing social evils, Bali hare (Payment in kind/crops for services) and Carcass systems.
• Guarantee of 20% reservation in each organ of the State
• Stop immediately all types of violence, discrimination and sexual exploitation.
• Demand for especial facilities to the excluded and deprived Dalit family within Dalit community in the sectors of health treatment, transportation, and consumable goods by making provision of 25% discount based on the Card system on above stated facilities by the state.
• Demand for appointment of one male and female teacher in each school.
• Demand for free and compulsory education with apt scholarship to all Dalit students from primary to university levels.
• Demand for changing feudalistic attitude and conservative thinking being followed for centuries.
Report by:
Suman Paudel