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Workshop on Constitutional Making process and
Dalit Reservation
Organised by Nepal Dalit Utthan Sangh (NDUS)
20-21 June 2008
Sandhikhaka, Arghakhanchi
Nepal Dalit Utthan Sangh (NDUS) conducted
two-days workshop on "Constitution Making Process and Dalit
Reservation" at Sandhikharka, Arghakhanchi on 20th -21st
June,2008. The Chief Guest of the program was Prof. Man Bahadur
Vishwakarma. Kamal Bishwakarma, Chairperson of NDUS, chaired the
two-day session. Ninety-nine Dalit activists, representatives
of political parties, journalists, governmental officials, civil
society members and I/NGO's participated the workshop. Twenty-six
of them were women. The moderator of the program was Lokendra
B.K, a Dalit activist. Most of the participants of a workshop
have stressed on the strong unity among the Dalit communities
to fight for their constitutional and human rights in the changed
political scenario of the nation. The Constituent Assembly (CA)
election brought 49 Dalits in the CA but many of them lack essential
knowledge about constitutional questions. Socialization about
key issues pertaining to Dalits' welfare is the task of this seminar.
The inaugural session started at 11:30 AM
on 20th June, 2008 and closed at 4:00 p.m. Addressing the inaugural
session, Prof. Man Bahadur Vishwokarma said that constitution
should create a strong mechanism to monitor the rights and special
arrangements of Dalits. Likewise, the electoral process should
be inclusive and quotas should also be ensured under it so that
they will have proportional representation in the institutions
of governance. More importantly, separate constituencies should
also be outlined for Dalit. About 98 percent of the Dalits demanded
for reservation in sectors like political appointment, constitutional
appointment, Election, education, health and jobs and social
sector dev elopment.
On 21st June 2008 Suraj Kumar Bishwokarma
presented a paper on "Constitution Making Process and Dalit
Reservation" in the future constitution which was commented
by Krishna Prasad Khanal. The discussion continued after the
lunch session. Speaking on the occasion Pitamber sharma Bhusal,
District President of Nepali Congress said that one cannot be
Dalit on one the basis of caste. There are many things for Dalits
being made due to outdated attitude of society, illiteracy etc.
He also said nobody should tolerate any kind of discrimination
whether by so-called higher caste people or within the Dalit
communities. They should oppose immediately caste discrimination
and even inform organizations of human rights bodies, seek their
help to publicize the issue and to seek justice. Likewise, the
representatives of CPN-UML, Ramji Prasad Ghimire said formulation
of laws alone are not enough unless they are implemented and
therefore focus should be on their proper implementation to
abolish untouchability that is plaguing the Dalit caste that
represents 13 percent of the nation's total population of 27
million.
Nimananda Gaire of Peoples' Front Nepal, focused
on equality in economic status. To him, "Education , health
and employment should be basic right of the people in the future
constitution." This will certainly end the existing forms
of discrimination for which people , who are made Dalit, should
fight.
Ram Bahadur Pariyar , member of Ex-Army Association
of Arghakhanchi said that Dalits should have active participation
in the activities of the political parties on Dalit issues and
they should create pressure on the parties to correct their
faulty principles regarding welfare of Dalit communities. If
the community feels that the existing political parties could
not became sensitive over the Dalit issues they should also
think of forming a separate new party of Dalit communities.
Other participants of the program Sher Bahadur KC from Janamorcha-
Nepal, Hari Bahadur Khadka from Samudayik Vikas Kendra and other
participants expressed their views in the program demanding
the abolition of discrimination as per Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, Nepali Constitution and laws, provide political
entitlements for their empowerment and create social opportunities
for their education, health, income and social competence.
Krishna Prasad Khanal defined negative aspects
of reservation as it might institutionalize privilege and discriminate
the intelligent people from other castes. He though that a system
of reservation makes a lazy for all. So, we should find alternatives
of reservation for Dalit uplitment, increases their competitive
spirit, ensure freedom and condition for social equality.
The second day of the program focused on common
issues between Dalits and non-Dalits, stressed on a single national
identity than a negative identity of high caste and low castes
and demanded support from non-Dalits as to how they can support
their social, economic and political upliftment. Most of the
participants emphasized that nothing has been done on proportional
representation of Dalit communities. Dalit representatives argued,
"We are not for separation but equal social integration.
We all should go in an integrated way with the parties but we
need to have proportional representation on the basis of population."
They also stressed that new constitution should
also ensure the 20% reservation for Dalit communities. They
also demanded the identification of special Dalit issues, inclusion
of those issues in the constitutional debate, lobbying from
Dalits for further incorporation into the future constitution
and coalition building among Dalits and non-Dalits for progressive
social change so that no one is discriminated on the future
on the basis of caste, gender and other social distinction.
At the end, participants agreed to circulate the message they
have learned to village people and motivate both men and women
to participate in constitutional discussion.
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