Kathmandu- A two-day National Conference of Dalit Intellectuals organized by LANCAU Nepal was held successfully here on the 30th and 31st of August 2009. The theme of the conference was“Ensuring Issues of Dalit Rights in the process of constitution making: The need of the Time”

On the first day, the conference kicked off, as the Chief Guest Rt. Honorable Chairperson of the Constituent Assembly Mr. Subsah Chandra Nemwang inaugurated the conference. The guests included Honorable State Minister for Local Administration Jitu Gautam, Honorable State Minister for Health Khadga Bahadur Basyal, Dhana Kumari Sunar (Member of National Women Commission), Shambhu Hajara Paswan (Chairperson of State Restructuring Committee) and Dr Chet Bahadur Pariyar. The inaugural session was chaired by then President of LANCAU Nepal Mr.Ratna Bahadur Bagchand. More than 300 people including 140 Dalit intellectuals from 75 district and luminaries from different walks of life attended the opening ceremony.

The significance of the conference is assumed relatively higher in the present context of ongoing peace process and the Constitution building. It is for the first time in the history of Dalit Movement, that Dalit intellectuals from 75 districts came together to contribute in making Dalit friendly Constitution.

The primary aim of the conference was to provide a forum for Dalit Intellectuals to share their visions, experiences, understanding and chalk out a strategy on how Dalit intellectuals could contribute in ensuring Dalit rights in the new constitution.

The speakers at the inaugural session unanimously highlighted the pressing need to integrate Dalit perspective into the new constitution. The speakers were of the view that this was the right time to address the Dalit agenda and formulate a Constitution which is truly reflective of the Dalit need and aspiration.

After the inaugural session, knowledgeable people of the relevant field presented thematic papers. All papers were discussed in the closed session. The four experts Mrs. Kamala Hemchuri, Mr. Om Prakash V.K, Advocate Narayan Nepal and Advocate. Yam Bhadur Kisan presented their papers on the following topics respectively;

1. Guaranteeing of Dalit Social and Cultural Rights in New Constitution
2. Addressing issues of Dalit in new constitution in the context of Economic Development
3. Ensuring Dalit Rights in new Constitution in Present Context.
4. Dalit Rights in Federalism and State Restructuring Process

Outcomes of the Program
A National Forum of Dalit intellectuals comprising of 31 members was formed. The forum will raise the issues and agendas of Dalits at the local, National and international level and also contribute in the Constitution writing process by acting as pressure group. As a follow up of the national conference a round table conference will be held at the regional level and suggestions and views of the Dalit intellectuals expressed during the conference, will be documented and presented to the Chairperson of the Constituent Assembly.

The two-day conference concluded on the 31st of August issuing the “Kathmandu Declaration” and on a note of solidarity among Dalit intellectuals.

Reported by:
Adv. Bidhata Poudel
Asst. Director (Law & Justie)
LANCAU Nepal