Phidim, April 23

Dalit leaders associated with various political parties and organisations have vowed to launch a campaign to abolish caste-based discrimination prevalent in the district .

A gathering of Dalit leaders affiliated to 11 political parties and organisations held in the district headquarters Phidim today decided to launch a concerted campaign against caste-based discrimination. “We decided to launch the drive as caste-based discrimination is still prevalent in our society though the law of the land prohibits untouchability,” said Bishal Rasaili, CPN-Maoist district secretary.

According to Bimal Dhamala of Nepali Congress, they would even launch protests if discrimination against Dalits continues. “As we reckoned that struggling together would be more effective than fighting as individuals, we came up with the idea of collective agitation,” Damala said, adding that the provision of reservations for Dalits weren’t enough to uplift the community.

On the occasion, the participants, realising the need to take Dalit agitation to a new height, formed a forum called Dalit Ekata Mahasangh headed by Sahaman Shankar. It also formed a 13-member working committee that comprises Dalit leaders from various political parties and organisations.