Incidents of caste-based discrimination on rise

Kathmandu, Dec 14: Incidents of caste-based discrimination are on rise at different places in the country.

According to the National Dalit Commission, a total of seven complaints related to caste-based discrimination have been filed at the Commission so far in the current fiscal year 2071/72 BS.

Similarly, the Commission has been carrying out investigation on some 10 cases of untouchability on the basis of news published in different newspapers.

Commission Chairman Man Bahadur Nepali said that mostly petitions regarding village expulsion on the charge of inter-caste marriage, thrashing on the charge of touching drinking water, entering temple are registered at the commission.

He said, "Though the Commission recorded less number of petitions regarding caste-based discrimination as compared to police administration. Such incidents are on the rise across the country."

The Commission Chairman said that the Commission has been carrying out work to provide justice along with compensation by forwarding investigation on the basis of petition.

Although the Racial Discrimination and Untouchability (Crime and Punishment) Act, 2068 was formulated and implemented during the then Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal's term, it has not been implemented in an effective manner. 

Central Committee member of the Nepali Congress and lawmaker Jeevan Pariyar said that in the recent time it is very difficult for the people from Dalit community to get rented house in Kathmandu.

House owner are found expelling the people from Dalit community from their house immediately after coming to know about their caste.

There is a provision in the Act that one can get three years' imprisonment or Rs 1,000-Rs 25,000 fine or both if he/she was found involved in such act.

Dozens of Dalits were killed and dozens of Dalit families have been displaced at different places across the nation on the charge of touching drinking water and kitchen in the three years after the implementation of the Act, said Chairman of Jagaran Media Centre, Rem Bishwokarma. RSS