Lahan, January 2:

About a dozen non-government organisations working for the welfare of Dalits have accused the National Dalit Commission (NDC) of remaining apathetic towards the plight of Dalits.

The representatives critised the NDC for not reacting to cases of discrimination against the Dalits.

Representatives of these non-governmental organisations, which are based in the districts of Siraha, Saptari and Udayapur, have warned that they will launch a movement against the National Dalit Commission.

Presenting a memorandum to the member of the Dalit commission, Mohan Midhar, who had come here to participate in a seminar on the Responsibility of the non-Dalits and State for Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Dalits”, the representatives accused the commission of remaining apathetic towards the injustice meted out to the Dalits in the region.

Instead of visiting the areas where Dalits are discriminated against, the commission has limited itself to taking part in a seminar, the memorandum submitted by the non-governmental organisations stated.

Stating that the non-governmental organisations had made a lot of efforts for the formation of the commission, the memorandum warns: “We wish we won’t have to launch a movement against it.”

The memorandum issued, among others, by representatives of the Dalit Janakalyan Yuba Club Siraha, Janachetana Dalit Sangam Saptari, Dalit Network Siraha, Saptari, Udayapur, Dalit Social Service Association Siraha, Land Rights Forum Siraha, Saptari, Network against Violence to Domestic Women Siraha, has demanded that action be taken against those who had barred the Dalits from entering into temples in Patthargadha village development committee (Saptari district) and in Bhadaiya village development committee (VDC), Siraha district some days ago.

The National Dalit Commission has failed to uplift the Dalit community, the memorandum states.

In the name of organising a saha bhoj (collective feast), the commission arranged food prepared in a Marwari hotel, the memorandum further states. Noting that a series of incidents against the Dalits had taken place in the region, Binod Bisunke, a Dalit campaigner from Siraha, criticised the commission for not protesting against such incidents.