KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 30
Dalit rights activists have said that although the prevailing laws have outlawed caste discrimination and untouchability, the Dalit community still faced discrimination at workplaces, gatherings, and temples.
Speaking at an interaction organised by Dalit Women Network at Kirtipur today, Binda Pariyar, a resident of Kirtipur Municipality-6, shared that her mother was stopped by local women from offering prayers at the local Jalpadevi temple recently.
She said she just wanted her family to not to be subjected to any kind of discrimination.
However, she did not demand that the villagers who discriminated against her mother be punished because her family wanted to live in harmony in the society.
Chair of Dalit Women Network Sarswati Pariyar said it was deplorable that even in the 21st century, Dalits were still fighting against caste discrimination and untouchability.
Secretary of Dalit Women Network Mana Kumari BK said they had included non-Dalits in their committees as the fight against racial discrimination, prejudices and untouchability required combined efforts from all the stakeholders of society.
She said the first efforts of Dalit community should be to use reconciliatory approach to end caste discrimination.
Rights activist Bharat Nepali said although the conviction rate in caste discrimination cases was negligible, rights activists and victims of discrimination should not be discouraged from seeking legal remedies.
Chair of Kirtipur Municipality Ward No 6 Khirman Singh Basnet said caste discrimination could not be justified on any grounds, and added that his ward office was ready to take action against the guilty.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 1, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
