Dalit leaders press for Integrated Law to promote Dalits’ rights

Sushil Darnal/RSS Kathmandu, Sept 3: An integrated law had been demanded to promote the economic, political, social, educational, and employment status of the Dalit Community.

Citing that the status of Dalits is at the bottom in the human development index and the presence of the Community at the State apparatus negligible, leaders from the political community have demanded the formulation and implementation of an integrated law to implement the Constitutional provisions regarding the rights of the Dalits. This is the responsibility of the State to empower the Dalit community from each aspect by ensuring their proportional representation in each organ of the State, they asserted.

It is worth noting the Constitution expresses a firm determination to build an egalitarian society founded on proportional inclusive and participatory principles to ensure economic equality, prosperity, and social justice, by eliminating discrimination based on class, caste, region, language, religion gender, and all forms of caste-based untouchability, Chhabilal Bishwakarma, the secretary of CPN (UML) believes that integration of legal instruments relating to the Dalit community will contribute to their effective implementation, easing the ground to advance towards the goal.

He said that if this happens, there will be a positive public understanding of Dalit rights. He argues that such a law could counteract the entrenched Manuscript-based prejudices that persist in South Asia, provide a legal framework for improving Dalit status, and challenge traditional court procedures. The representation of Dalits in the central committees of three major political parties is less than 10 percent: It is 5.73 in the CPN (UML) followed by 6.41 in the Nepali Congress and 8.31 in the CPN (Maoist Centre) Ramtel stressed that the full implementation of the rights of Dalits is guaranteed by Article 40 (Rights of Dalit), 18 (Right to Equality) through the preparation of an integrated law.

These articles in particular ensure that nothing shall be deemed to prevent the making of special provisions by law for the protection, empowerment, or development of the citizens including Dalit and the Dalit community shall have the right to participate in all bodies of the State based on the principle of proportional inclusion. Joint General Secretary of Nepali Congress, Jeevan Pariyar, demands an integrated law to improve the Dalits’ overall rights, including political, economic, cultural, educational, and employment, and free education with scholarships for the Dalit community up to the higher level.

Former Ambassador Padam Sundas suggests that various existing acts, such as the Civil Service Act, Police Act, Armed Police Force Act, Nepal Army Act, Nepal Special Service Act, Health Service Act, Education Act, and Foreign Employment Act, should be reviewed for their provisions concerning Dalits when drafting the integrated act.

They demand extensive discussions among members of the House of Representatives, National Assembly, thematic and legal experts, and political parties to prepare a preliminary draft of the proposed Bill for the integrated act. —RSS