On the occasion of the passing of the bill, a lamp was lit at Shahid Park in Shahid Chowk, Pokhara on Monday evening. The Act includes issues such as health, social security, education, employment, empowerment and protection of traditional skills of the Dalit community.
What you should know
The Gandaki State Assembly unanimously passed the 'Gandaki State Dalit Rights and Empowerment Bill' on Monday. The 'Gandaki Pradesh Dalit Rights Act, 2082', which was prepared with the aim of ensuring the rights of the Dalit community and empowering them socially, economically, educationally and culturally, was introduced.
This bill was sent to the Social Development and Agriculture Committee on 15 March 2081 for quarterly discussion. Damayanti Ruchal, the chairperson of the committee, said that the report was prepared with amendments after extensive discussions with stakeholders, experts and parliamentarians.
The bill prepared on the basis of the report was presented by Vindukumar Thapa, Minister of Social Development, Youth and Sports of the Government of Gandaki Province, in the Parliament meeting on Monday. The said report was submitted to the assembly in accordance with Rule 126 of the Gandaki State Assembly Rules 2080 and passed unanimously.
Minister Thapa presented the bill as an example of the best legal practice in the province and said, "The provisions to end traditional occupations, caste discrimination and untouchability are mainly emphasized in the bill."
This Act includes health, social security, education, employment, empowerment and protection of traditional skills of the Dalit community. He also mentioned that this Act is a legal basis for long-term solution of every problem faced by the Dalit community and there is an open provision that can be amended as per the time. The parliamentarians have considered the passage of the
bill as a positive and far-reaching step. MP Dilliram Subedi explained this bill as a commendable act of the Gandaki state government. "Not only to compete in physical development, social development should also be given equal priority," he said, "this bill will become a great campaign of transformation for the political, cultural and social awakening of the Dalit community."
MP Rajkumari Bhujel said that 18.2 percent of the population in Gandaki province belongs to the Dalit community, "This bill is a powerful step to bring them out of the untouchable and deprived situation." She also pointed out the need to implement all the bills together to ensure rights.
Member of Parliament Hari Bahadur Bhandari said that the introduction of the bill is a commendable act regarding the problems faced by the Dalit community due to lack of legal structure in the state. "The legal door is now open to ensure the rights given by the constitution," he said, "Even though there is a debate about ending caste discrimination, it has not been implemented, the government should pay serious attention to it." She said, 'This bill is expected to be effective in providing access to education, health, employment and social justice.'
MP Tika Kumari Basyal said today is a historic moment for the Dalit community. "The legal door has been opened to ensure the rights of the Dalit community who have been suffering for centuries," she said, "Giving priority to the executive vice president is the strong point of the bill and it will lead the fight for equality to victory." "The law alone is not enough, the implementation side should be strong," she said, "this act will be effective in implementing the constitution of Nepal." She also stressed on the need for regular review to end caste discrimination.
Member of Parliament Dilmaya Pauvi mentioned that 6 Dalit MPs are represented in the Gandaki State Assembly and said that the bill should be put into practice and not limited to paper documents. She added, 'Society will be strong only if the weaker sections are empowered. This bill will become a milestone in the creation of equal opportunities. The
Act includes legal guarantees towards the end of caste discrimination and untouchability, expansion of access to education and employment, special priority in health and social security, provision of scholarships and hostels for Dalit children, control of violence against women and children and child marriage, protection and promotion of traditional skills and professions. On the occasion of the passing of the
bill, politicians, Dalit rights activists, human rights activists and others have lit a lamp at Sahid Park in Pokhara's Sahid Chowk on Monday. Speaking after the lighting of the lamp, Speaker Krishna Dhital said that the Dalit Rights Act is not just a legal provision but a cornerstone of social transformation. Minister Thapa promised to implement it effectively. Earlier, Madhesh, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces have brought Dalit Rights Act.
