INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
&Dalits are unable to sell dairy products due to superstitious beliefs in society&
Kathmandu, March 4
Practice of caste-based discrimination
still exists in the country despite criminalisation of the social evil, according to Annual Report-2019, published recently by the National
Human Rights Commission.
Article 24 of the constitution states that no person shall be subjected to any form of discrimination or
untouchability on grounds of his/her origin, caste, tribe, community, occupation orphysical condition
Any act of untouchability and discrimination shall be punishable by law, and the victims shall have the right to obtain compensation for the
damage caused to him/ her.
&National and international laws are in effect to protect and promote the rights of every person
The country was declared free from caste-based discrimination on 4 June 2006
However, social evils still exist,& reads the report
The society continues to be divided over so-called high caste and low caste
Mostly, the lower caste Dalits are landless and homeless.
According to the report, many children from the Dalit community are not able to
attend school regularly and they drop out in the middle
Filing complaints against incidents of caste-based discrimination with the police and local level authority is not easy.
&Dalits are not
able to sell dairy products including milk due to some superstitious beliefs in society
They also face various hurdles in purchasing such products
There are instances where different utensils are used to serve them tea,& reads the report.
The practice of not inviting them to non-Dalit
home for puja, marriage and other social functions is pervasive
Even if they are invited, a separate arrangement is made to serve prasad and food for them
The Dalits are not allowed to attend funeral rites of non-Dalitfamilies and they are compelled to use separate place for cremation of dead
Practices like preventing Dalits from using well and taps in non-Dalit area and entering into a temple continue unabated
Inter-caste marriage is not recognised
Dalits find it difficult to rent a room or a flat.
&Despite these hurdles there have been some positive changes in society compared to the
The new generation has been rising above the mentality of discrimination
Issue of castebased discrimination has become a national issue
Dalit communities are able to fight the injustice meted out to them
Their issuesare prioritised by media
Laws have been enacted to protect the rights of Dalits,& reads the report
Problems facing the Dalits can be addressed only through collaboration and coordination among the stakeholders.
Collective role of all three
tiers of the government, the NHRC, the National Dalit Commission, the National Women Commission, the National Inclusion Commission, the
National Madhesi Commission, political parties, civil society, human rights defenders and the media is important
&There is aneed to end this harmful practice of discrimination
Effective enforcement of the prevailing laws, upgrading economic status of the Dalits and sensitisation programmes should be implemented
together,& suggests the report.
A victim of caste-based discrimination or a witness in such case may lodge a complaint at the nearest police
office seeking legal action against perpetrators
If police refuse to register the complaint and do not initiate action against the suspect, one may file complaint at the National Dalit
Commission or the concerned local level within 15 days of the incident.
If convicted, the perpetrator shall be liable to imprisonment for
maximum two years and fine of up to Rs 20,000 as per the law
Court many order the offender to provide compensation of up to Rs 200,000 to the victim.
The post Caste-based discrimination continues
across Nepal: Report appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
