4 January 2008, Dalit NGO Federation (DNF) carried out its another district campaign, being carried out 18 districts out of five development regions in recent times,in Mahottari district, Dalits of Mahattori raised Dalit agenda loudly with high unity showing mass demonstration for ensuring of Dalit Rights through Constituent Assembly. In active participation of around 400 Dalits of Mahottari District, a mass rally was demonstrated in Jaleshwor, the headquarter of Mahattori district.

The rally started from Jiromail of Jaleshwor which walked around the city of Mahattori chanting slogans of Dalit Demands “Ensure Dalit Rights through Constitution Assembly” with demonstrating play cards and banners. After demonstrating the mass rally in the headquarter, the mass gathering converted into the interaction programme named “Constituent Assembly and Inclusion of Dalits” in the hall of Local Development Office where District level leaders of political parties that include Nepali Congress, Nepal Communist Party (UML), People’s Front Party and others were invited to receive their solidarity and commitment to address the Rights and Issues of Dalits in the new constitution making process. Likewise, other distinguished guests as spoke persons invited in the program were the Local Development Officer Mr.Hari Lochan Sharma, representative of UNFPA/PARHI, local journalists, lawyer, intellectual and representative of local civil society and Human Rights organizations such as RDF, RCDSC and Seto Gurash Bal Bikash etc.

All the major leader of political parties and other representatives mentioned in their speech that it is right time to raise Dalit agenda to be addressed in the new constitution. Such type of programme must be continued even after CA polls and during the constitution making process so that it can create strong pressure to the CA member, political parties and government to address Dalit agenda for the inclusion of their rights in the new constitution. It was also highlighted during the programme by most of spokespersons that the dalit declarations made national and regional levels need to be advocated to ensure Dalit Rights in a systematic manner from national to grass root levels.

The programme was organized in coordination of Nepal Utpidit Utthan Pariyojana (NUUP), the member organization of DNF. The pogramme was chaired by Mr.Jitendra Paswan, President of NUUP and Facilitated by Mr.Sanjaya Paswan from NUUP.In the concluding remarks of the chairman of the programme, Mr.Paswan expressed that the solidarity and commitment received from the spokespersons of political parties and other concerned must be implemented and reservation to increase Dalit participatation in the every organs of the sate must be ensured.

Report by:
Dalit NGO Federation (DNF)
Women, Madheshi and Marginalized Division (WOMMD)