Kathmandu: Stakeholders have argued that a caste-based discriminatory mentality is responsible for the delay in advancing the enlisting of Dalit surnames. They highlighted that despite formal recommendations to the government on seven occasions, the final task of enlistment has yet to reach a conclusion.
According to National News Agency Nepal, at an interaction programme organized by the Active Dalit Journalists Association-Nepal, the Chairperson of the National Dalit Commission, Devraj Bishwakarma, mentioned that the enlistment process was affected due to the inclusion of some non-Dalit community surnames in the list. He expressed optimism that the enlistment process has now progressed and that the government would soon make a decision.
Commission’s Secretary Jhanak Bahadur Khatri noted that the issue is currently under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities, and Social Development. He expressed hope that a government decision would be forthcoming. Furthermore, Commission’s Chairperson Bishwakarma reported that 62 complaints lodged with the Commission had been resolved.