Kathmandu, January 25:

The Constitutional Committee today sought views of experts on the issues of Dalits, minorities, marginalised communities and gender equality to be incorporated in new constitution and its fundamental principles.

Putting forth his views, Tekram Tamrakar, an expert on Dalits, minorities and marginalised communities, said the principle of social and cultural democracy should be upheld in the new constitution. “The Dalits, marginalised and minorities are deprived of socio-economic and political rights as they are excluded socially and culturally,” he said.

He also urged the Constituent Assembly members to ensure that the backward communities would be proportionally represented in political affairs and policy-making bodies of the state.

“As the Dalits, minorities and marginalised communities have distinct identity in terms of their economic condition, language, culture, religion, and lifestyle, they should have the

rights to compulsory education, adequate shelter, healthcare services, rights to work and rights to group interests,” Tamrakar said. He also said social and cultural exclusion of the Dalits, marginalised and minorities were the major reasons for all the problems.

“It won’t be enough to just state the rights in the directive principles of the constitution. There

should be a constitutional provision to monitor whether or not these rights have been executed by the state,” he demanded. He also advised that the National Human Rights Commission could set up three separate wings to address the problems of Dalits, minorities and marginalised communities.

Members of the CC asked Tamrakar to submit point-wise suggestions on the issues to be incorporated in the new constitution.

Prof Shanta Thapaliya and senior advocate Mahadev Prasad Yadav shed light on the issues of gender and fundamental principles to be incorporated in the new constitution.