Kathmandu, May 24:

Dalit members of the Constituent Assembly today made a pledge to rid the nation of caste-based discrimination.

They made the pledge at a function organised by the National Dalit Commission.

In a commitment paper, Dalit CA members have promised to take initiatives to ensure proportional representation of the Dalit community in every sector of the nation.

The commitment paper states that existing traditions, including the tradition of keeping Dalits as Kamaiya and Haliya (bonded farm labourers), should be brought to an end. Jobs should be offered once the bonded labourers are liberated, the paper states.

Speaking at the function, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Pampha Bhusal said caste-based discrimination, which was was initiated by the feudal monarchy, will end soon.

President of the NDC Ram Lal Biswokarma demanded that draft bills relating to caste-based discrimination, elimination of untouchability and the National Dalit Commission be passed soon.