Kathmandu, January 27:

The National Dalit’s Commission (NDC) today made public its yearly progress report amid a programme here today. Presenting the report, Hari Gandhari, member secretary of the NDC, said, “The NDC is focused at policy-level activities in order to uplift dalit communities in our society.” He added that the Reservation Plan of Action had been formulated to secure reservation quotas for the dalits.

“A long-term strategy has been formulated to empower dalits. An index defining the dalit community and its 22 sub-castes will also be published in a gazette soon,” Gandhari said.

A study report on the displaced dalit children in the far and midwestern development regions as well as a survey report on racial discrimination both in government and non-government offices have been completed, Gandhari said.

“We also carried out monitoring and evaluation of the various programmes being run for the dalits by different governmental and non-governmental organisations,” he said.

“Dalit in Nepal,” a book giving necessary statistics on dalits in Nepal has been published in association with the Central Bureau of Statistics, along with other books on various dalit sub-castes like Dom, Chamar, Mahasur, Khatik, Pasi, Kori, Sarvang and Halkhor, the meet informed.

Gandhari also informed that actions had been taken against those responsible for racial discrimination, exploitation and sexual harassment, on the basis of various media reports.

Meanwhile, the National Federation of Dalit Women in India and the Feminist Dalit Organisation (FEDO) have decided to launch the “SAARC Dalit Women’s Forum” to address gender, caste and class-based discriminations that determine social identity, according to a statement issued here today. The decision was made after an Indian delegation visited dalit women here. The five-day visit of the Indian delegation is aimed at building stronger ties between the Feminist Dalit Organisation and other bodies working for the uplift of the dalit women.