Kathmandu: Leaders of different political parties have demanded that an equal participation of the Dalit community in the state organs be ensured on the basis of population. At an interaction programme on ‘Dalit Movement, Inclusive Policy and Role of Mass Media’ organized by the National Dalit Journalist Association Nepal, the speakers argued that there was a weak presence of the Dalit community in the state organs including the executive, judiciary, and legislative.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Vice Chairperson of Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti), Durga Sob, urged for a meaningful participation of the Dalit community in every state body. Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Association and Constituent Assembly Member Binod Pahadi stated that the commitment made to ensure equal participation of the Dalit community in all state organs was not implemented in practice. Pahadi added that the participation of the Dalit community in the federal parliament was on a declining trend, with current participation at just 5.81 per cent in the House of Representatives.
Likewise, Janata Samajwadi Party leader and Constituent Assembly Member Kamala Bishwakarma emphasized that the constitutional rights of the Dalit community should be implemented in practice. Also speaking at the event, Chairperson of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Nirmala Sharma, stated that the FNJ was completely inclusive and stressed the need for a study of cases of post-reservation concerning Dalit issues.
Activist and journalist Chakraman Bishwakarma highlighted the need for ensuring the participation of Dalits in state-owned media outlets, underscoring the importance of representation in all sectors.