The bill aimed at the empowerment and improvement of the living standards of the Dalit community, with amendments, has been passed by the Karnali Province Assembly. The assembly passed the bill on March 20 to promote the empowerment and upliftment of the Dalit community in Karnali Province. INSEC Karnali Province Coordinator Narayan Subedi stated that the bill was passed due to the continuous efforts and advocacy of INSEC, human rights activists, and Dalit members of the Provincial Assembly, as Karnali Province has a higher Dalit population compared to other provinces. Regarding the Dalit Empowerment Bill, INSEC had previously conducted a review and submitted a three-tier recommendation to concerned authorities and Provincial Assembly members for necessary amendments. The bill, drafted nearly six years ago, was passed with amendments after a prolonged effort, with periodic attention drawn by Provincial Assembly members, ministry officials, and other stakeholders, Subedi informed.
The bill was tabled twice in the Karnali Province Assembly, undergoing significant revisions. It was amended 52 times, with changes made to 29 clauses before it was finally passed. Initially, the bill was registered during the first term, but it became inactive once the term expired. In the second term, after further amendments, it was forwarded to the Social Development Committee. There has been a long-standing dispute regarding the provision in the bill to form an 11-member committee, chaired by the provincial minister, to coordinate, cooperate, and facilitate the effective implementation of policies, laws, and programs related to caste discrimination and untouchability, as well as to study, research, and monitor incidents of discrimination to empower the Dalit community and improve their living standards. The Ministry of Social Development had sent the bill, but employees from the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers’ office had returned it, citing concerns about the financial burden. The original bill included a provision for the committee to have at least three members, including one woman, but it was amended to include at least four members, with a minimum of two women, as informed by Rajendra Poudel, the Information Officer of the Karnali Province Assembly. Similarly, the committee initially included a representative from the National Human Rights Commission, but it was later amended to exclude the Commission’s representative from the committee. After amendments, the following points were added: coordinating with the ministry to promote the commercialization of traditional occupations and businesses operated by the Dalit community, collecting data on landless, bonded laborers from the Dalit community, and submitting it to the ministry. Additionally, studying the economic, social, political, administrative, and cultural status of the Dalit community within the province, and presenting a report to the ministry. Furthermore, collecting and analyzing data on incidents related to caste-based discrimination and untouchability and submitting it to the ministry was also included.
In Karnali, 29% population are from the Dalit community. Provincial Assembly member Ransingh Pariyar stated that with the passing of the law in favor of Dalits, it will now be easier to create plans and work on issues related to the Dalit community.