On the occasion of the 57th International Day Against Caste-based and Racial Discrimination, INSEC has organized a national workshop in Kathmandu from today.
In the program, the chairperson of INSEC Dr. Indira Shrestha shared that INSEC has been working for social justice, human rights and elimination of caste-based discrimination since its establishment. She mentioned that for the end the discrimination based on caste, the existing laws and policies should be implemented.
Chairperson of the National Dalit Commission, Devraj Bishwakarma, who was also the chief guest of the program, said that the state should conduct a sociological study of discrimination against Dalits and issue a white paper with an apology. He believes that if the non-Dalit community understands the sensitivities of the Dalit community, it will help in ending discrimination against Dalits.
Niradevi Jairu, chairperson of the Committee for Monitoring and Evaluating the Implementation of Directive Principles, Policies and Responsibilities of the Province, lamented that the state is biased in providing relief to Dalit victims. He emphasized on the need for the state to create conducive environment for the Dalit community to reach places where reservation is not required.
INSEC’s Founder Chairperson Sushil Pyakurel said that the ethnic system was an obstacle for the development of the country. He said that the Dalit community would be left behind as long as their property rights could not be guaranteed. He mentioned that the two-day workshop should be taken as a campaign and movement against caste-based discrimination.
Bhakta Bishwakarma, acting president of the Dalit NGO Federation, said that although the constitution and the law provided for an end to all forms of discrimination, proportional and inclusive, such laws have not been in practice to the daily life of the Dalit community. He said that the journey of socialism envisaged by the constitution could not move forward without the social and economic upliftment of the Dalit community.
Subodh Raj Pyakurel, former chairperson of INSEC, said that the people who are trying to make social relations will be helped to build a just society only if they reach the level of policy making. Stating that there should be a commitment from the political parties to end discrimination against the Dalits, he emphasized that the country could not be prosperous if the Dalit community was pushed back.
In the first session of the first day of the workshop, Bhola Paswan presented a working paper on Dalits of Terai Madhes and their status.
In the second session, INSEC Secretary General Rudra Bahadur Charmakar presented a working paper on the legal efforts and state of implementation for ending ethnic untouchability.
More than 100 people from all over the country are participating in the workshop.
