Nepal Dalit Liberation Front (NDLF) said that some 90 per cent of the caste-based discrimination has ended from the country after the Maoists launched people’s war some ten years ago.
“The practice of caste-based discrimination and untouchability has decreased by some 90 per cent after the launch of the peoples’ war in Nepal,” said Tilak Pariyar, chief of Nepal Dalit Liberation Front.
Addressing an interaction on “The role of Dalits in Constituent Assembly and the question of special rights” organised by the NDLF, the Maoist sister wing, he said Dalits make up 25 to 30 per cent of the local People’s Government that runs parallel to the local bodies of the government. They are enjoying their special rights there, he said, adding that the Dalit communities have been politically aware and they have developed leadership.
“Five constitutions have already been made and implemented in Nepal but Nepali Dalit communities are yet to be liberated and this may be the last time for them to write their fate by themselves.”
Pariyar also said special priority should be given to the Dalits in both public and private industries. Landless Dalits should be provided land seized from feudal land owners and their skill should be modernised, he said.
He also demanded an end to inhumane practices including Kamaiya, Haliya and Balighare and fix appropriate wages for the workers and strictly implement it. “Special quota should be allocated for Dalit youths in the security services,” he said.
Member of the Maoists talks team, Dev Gurung, said the process to end monarchy will begin after the sovereignty is handed over to the people, therefore the parties are not willing to go for a round table conference. “The parties are hatching conspiracies to delay the constituent assembly,” he claimed.
Sociologist Dr Krishna Bahadur Bhattachan, human right activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Dr Sumitra Manandhar, advocate Yam Bahadur Kisan, Dalit activist Padma Lal Biswokarma and advocate Meera Dhungana also spoke.