Once the Act was implemented, its effects were far-reaching and had tremendous long-term impacts on the whole country. But unlike in the US, our own law at home failed to prohibit discriminations faced by the Dalits and protect this marginalized groups’ identity and rights. One reason was that untouchability and other outdated practices are so entrenched in Nepali psyche that breaking away from those needs strong state action. Unfortunately, in Nepal, the Dalit problems have been used as a political tool severely exploited by numerous political parties for petty gains. Even while the Maoists espoused the cause of the Dalits during the People’s War days, the party failed to give the backward and the marginalized communities representation within the party, thus rendering the entire concept of inclusiveness hollow.
Every political party in Nepal has a separate Dalit organization, which claims to work for Dalit welfare. But in reality, these organizations have brought about sharp divide in the Dalit population at large. Besides, over the years, the Dalit movement in itself lost much ground with the creamy-layer of the Dalits taking sheer advantage of their cause, thereby failing to penetrate to the bottom. Many NGOs thriving in the country in the name of Dalit rights are actually using this opportunity to gain money and fame. The result of all this is that the poor Dalits are still ignored, discriminated and denied their due share. Dalits form 13 percent of the total population of the country, but 50 percent of them are illiterate, 77 percent of them are agriculturally landless and they still form the majority of Nepal’s poor.
But all is not lost. It would help if the Dalit movement breaks away from political exploitation and come up with a cohesive voice to show a united stand. The 50 Dalit Constituent Assembly members shoulder a historic responsibility to shape the future of this long deprived group of people. And as the CA prepares to formulate a new constitution, there is no better time than to guarantee the constitutional rights of this underprivileged section of society.
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