Dalits seek 20 per cent quota

Kathmandu, July 9:

The Dalit NGO Federation staged a protest programme here today demanding 20 per cent reservation in governmental posts for Dalits and an end to discrimination.

“Dalits make up 20 per cent of the total population,” said Bom Bahadur Bishowkarma, central secretary of the DNF. “The state needs to reserve 20 per cent seats for them.”

He said 49 Dalit members in the constitution assembly were not able to address the problems

facing Dalits owing to the frequent House disruptions.

The government has reserved 13 per cent seats for the Dalits, but they hold only eight per cent of them in both the public and private sectors, he said.

The DNF demanded reservations in all political, economic, cultural, health, educational, legal and occupational sectors. The government’s provision of 13 per cent reservations benefitted only the rich Dalits, argued Bishowkarma.

“The DNF asked the parties to nominate Dalits for the remaining 26 CA seats, but our request fell on deaf ears,” said DNF Central-region president Krishna BK.

Clear legal provisions should be made to punish people who discriminate against Dalits, argued BK.