Desk for Dalits, Janajatis at KMC draws a blank

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, June 11:

The Dalit and Janajati desk at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has not received any response

from the communities concerned living in the city. “None of the Dalit and Janajati organisations have approached me after the desk was established,” said Kumari Rai of the Dalit and Janajati desk of the KMC. She said Dalit organisations used to visit KMC seeking financial support for their programmes. Rai further said she was confused over what programmes to devise for the deprived communities for the next fiscal year. “With no such communities coming up with their demands and proposals, I am working on my own to devise skill-oriented trainings and scholarship programmes for the communities for the next fiscal year,” she said. “It is difficult for me to assess the needs of the communities.” She even expressed concern over the lack of follow-up from the Ministry of Local Development after the officials directed the local bodies to conduct programmes for the overall development of the deprived communities.