Human beings are basically progressive by nature. That’s precisely the reason we’ve come this far from Stone Age to techno-savvy ultra-modern age. However, there is absolutely no dearth of people who are averse to change and progression. Discrimination based on hierarchical Hindu caste system is one of the classic examples of existence of regressive forces in the society.

Dalits contribute over 25% of the total population of Nepal yet these people continue to become victims of irrational practice at the hands of so called upper caste people. Despite, numerous attempts to eliminate caste based discrimination from the society by several human rights and Dalit rights activists, it hasn’t yielded any dramatic results yet. Although, discriminating people on caste basis is regarded as a punishable offence by the constitution, the concerned authority often fails to prosecute the perpetrator and victims continue to suffer silently even today. Year after year politicians only pay lip service and ensure the rights of the dalits merely on paperwork.

It is not just rural, uneducated people who discriminate dalits; even well-educated rbanites and so called elites believe in caste system and treat them as untouchables. Dalits have continually been subjected various forms of mental and physical atrocities and verbal battering on the ground that they are born dalits. Since Dalits have been placed lowest in the social hierarchy, they have long been denied access to public places like temples and communal water taps to name a few. This way the so called upper caste people continue to infringe upon Dalits’ fundamental human rights which is gross travesty to law and justice of Nepal. In recent times, however, several laws and regulations have been introduced by the government to improve the plight of the Dalits, most of whom continue to remain below the poverty line. Government and non-government organizations have come up with eservations and Dalits quota to upgrade the socio-economic status of Dalits. This is

certainly a step forward.

The new constitution should ensure Dalit rights and strictly prohibit any sort of discriminatory approaches in social, cultural, economic or political ground. Otherwise communal disharmony is bound to take its toll on all of us in Nepal.