Kathmandu, May 7:

General secretary of the Dalit NGO Federation Bom Bahadur Biswokarma today expressed concern about the under-representation of Dalits in the Constituent Assembly.

“Only 50 Dalits have been represented by the political parties which is far less than 13 per cent representation that was expected,” he said addressing an interaction on “Role of Media people in institutionalising Dalit issues through CA” organised by the DNF here, today.

The Federation has submitted a memorandum to the political parties expressing concern about the under-representation of the Dalit communities in the CA.

Biswokarma urged the media to highlight the agendas of the Dalits to be raised in

the CA.

He said the political parties have picked up the Dalit representatives just for the name sake.

He said the Dalit organisations should train the lawmakers, provide necessary resource materials to study before they attend the Constituent Assembly proceedings.

He also opined that the Dalit lawmakers should be provided orientation by the civil society.

According to him, the major issues which should be raised in the CA include 20 per cent reservation for the Dalits at all the sectors of the government mechanism and the private sector as well, declaration of a Dalit rights decade, establishing Dalits’ rights on land, water and forest and constitutional provision for the establishment of an all-powerful Dalit Commission.

He further said the would lobby for the parties and other bodies to increase the representation of Dalits in the CA.

Journalists attending the interaction called on the DNF to launch an effective media campaign.