Kathmandu: Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA), Narayana Prasad Dahal, has emphasized the need to declare a public holiday on the National Day for the Elimination of Caste-Based Discrimination and Untouchability. Addressing a program organized by the National Dalit Commission on the occasion of the 19th observance of the Day, the NA Chair urged the government to consider this initiative.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Dahal highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the Dalit community, noting that they still lack adequate access to education, health, employment, housing, social security, and representation in state bodies. He pointed out that the constitutional rights of Dalits have yet to be fully realized and emphasized that Dalit children continue to be deprived of quality education.
Dahal further highlighted the inadequate access to healthcare and limited participation in employment opportunities for Dalits. Despite the criminalization of untouchability, caste-based discrimination, violence, and exclusion persist.
The NA Chair shared that the National Assembly has already instructed the government to implement a resolution motion that ensures cultural, economic, and political rights for Dalits, along with their progress and prosperity by eliminating all forms of discrimination and suppression. The National Day is observed annually on the 21st of Jeth to advocate for the elimination of caste-based discrimination and untouchability and to promote an equitable society.