Kathmandu: Irrespective of the inclusive and just system, and society we have been advocating for long, the Dalit people are bearing the brunt of social discrimination. Even the constitution and related acts have provided rights to the Dalit, but justice to them remains elusive.
According to National News Agency Nepal, it has been 14 years since the Ethnic Discrimination and Untouchability (Crime and Punishment Act, 2068) came into effect. However, the incidents of ethnic discrimination and untouchability have not declined. During this period, 17 Dalit people lost their lives due to inter-caste marriage and other social discriminations like untouchability issues. They were killed, while many Dalits were socially excluded, as reported by Samata Foundation.
Those killed in such incidents were Rajesh Nepali (Parbat), Rupmati Kumari Das (Morang), Nawaraj BK (Jajarkot), Manbire Sunar (Kalikot), Shiva Shankar Das (Saptari), Sete Damai (Dailekh), Jhuma BK (Taplejung), Sangita Pariyar (Tanahu), and Ashmita Sarki (Jhapa), Laxmi Pariyar (Kavre), Ajit Mijar (Kavre), Shreya Sunar (Kaski), Mana Sarki (Kalikot), Ditiya Reshma Rasaili (Dhanusha), Maya BK (Kailali), Tikaram Nepali (Rukum), and Angira Pasi (Rupandehi), added Foundation Chairman Dr Madan Pariyar.
As per the Act, the offender is subjected to a fine and jail term, but many incidents are not forwarded for legal action. Chairman Pariyar shared that police were showing sheer ignorance to the existing Act and facilitating reconciliation rather than forwarding complaints and investigation. Numerous inter-caste couples have been displaced.
Leader of CPN (Maoist Centre), Parshuram Ramtel, emphasized the need for the State to be serious in effectively enforcing the Act. “The country is practicing the federal democratic republic, but social justice is not achieved,” he observed, adding that the Dalit community, which comprises 14 percent of the total population, is bound to live in sheer injustice.