Rautahat, March 31

Bijay Mali Dom has become the first Dom from marginalised and backward Dom community of Tarai to pass the Public Service Commission examination.

Born in Mithuawa VDC-7 of Rautahat in 1998, Bijay is the first person from his community to secure the job of an Assistant Health Worker after clearing the PSC test. Bijay said he used to attend classes without the knowledge of his parents as they’d rather have him tend pigs.

Bijay said he was not allowed to sit with other students and was sent to a corner every day for belonging to a ‘lower caste’. “Due to the deep-rooted practice of untouchability in our society, I had to face various hardships to study,” he said. Rautahat is home to around 1,000 Dom people. The community does not send their kids to school. They rear pigs and make bamboo-related materials to eke out their living.

Bijay expressed worry over the non-enrolment of Dom kids in schools despite the government’s efforts. He said many Dom children were forced to stay away from school due to the caste-based discrimination prevalent in society. He said Dom children were denied their right to education, scholarship and many other government facilities.