Jeevan Baniya
Empowering Dalits in Nepal: Lessons from South Korean NGOs’ Strategies. A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (NGO Studies) to the Graduate School of International Studies, Ajou University. December 2007.

- Bhakti Nepal
Reporting for nepaldalitinfo

The nepaldalitinfo network expresses its gratitude to Jeevan Baniya, a Nepali scholar, for his Master’s Thesis , “Empowering Dalits in Nepal: Lessons from South Korean NGOs’ Strategies” which he submitted to the Graduate School of International Studies Ajou University in South Korea. Baniya has successfully explored the information relating to important aspects of Dalit empowerment in Nepal. The author has touched on both inter-caste and intra-Dalit caste discrimination rampant in the country, while examining the ills of discriminatory practices against Dalits as well as the socio-eceonomic and political status of Dalit communities. The author draws practical implications on Dalit empowerment in Nepal from the experience gained by NGO sector in South Korea.

The author has drawn contemporary information on Dalits from large number of sources, of which the nepal dalit information resources available at our website http://www.nepaldalitinfo.20m.com was one source.

The nepaldalitinfo network, which undertakes internationalization of Nepali Dalit issues as one of the goals, congratulates Baniya for his successful attempt to document Dalit issues internationally at Ajou University in South Korea.

Abstract of the Thesis

It is estimated that there are 260 million Dalit people worldwide still living in segregation and servitude because of caste-based discrimination, according to Human Rights Watch. Even in the 21st century, there are many Dalit people in Nepal who are treated as animals. They constitute around 20% of the total population of the country; but they are systematically discriminated, excluded and marginalized in the social, cultural, economic and political spheres. They are even deprived of their basic needs such as health, food, and education. Taking this serious situation of Dalits in the country in to the account, many civil society organizations (CSOs) and government agencies have been working for elimination of different forms of discriminations to them, and towards their empowerment through their several programs in the country. This study establishes that their programs and interventions are however, yet far from meeting their goals owing to several constraints. The study also makes the profound analysis of the issues and concludes that for the overall Dalit empowerment, it is urgent need for the government, civil society, international agencies and business society to come up with strong commitments as well as effective, innovative and result oriented programs that change and reshape the attitudes and perspectives of the people towards Dalits. Likewise, the study also states that the different actors fighting for the empowerment of Dalits should be more proactive in their strategies and thereby devote themselves as philanthropic to combat against the vicious ill of discriminations, inequality and exclusion against Dalits in Nepal. And some strategies used by South Korean NGOs that have enormously contributed to enable those NGOs in enhancing institutional capacity can be good lessons for the Nepali CSOs. In the context of poor capacity of CSOs in Nepal, the South Korean experiences are relevant in strengthening them that will ultimately contribute in empowering the Dalit community in Nepal.

Download the full document, Master’s Thesis: Empowering Dalits in Nepal: Lessons from South Korean NGOs’ Strategies by Jeevan Baniya (Jeevan_thesis07.pdf, 365 KB)