The Dalit women representatives of Morang complained that there was no equality in policy and behavior towards the Dalit community.

The Dalit women representatives participating in the district level gathering called 'Orientation of Women People's Representatives for Leadership Equality and Social Justice' organized by Dalit Women's Association (Fedo) in Biratnagar on Tuesday expressed their strong displeasure over the discrimination in budget distribution. More than 30 Dalit women representatives from 15 out of 17 municipalities of Morang participated. 

Reena Rishidev, a ward member of Budhiganga rural municipality-2, which is bordered by Biratnagar metropolis, narrated the incident of locking the ward office some time ago because the municipality did not allocate budget for Dalit targeted programs.

'They neither let us speak, nor allocate the budget,' she said, 'We are the people's representatives who are being discriminated against. Who do we complain to? Who will tell the pain?'

Dillimaya Magranthi, executive member of Sunavarshi municipality, also said that even though they have repeatedly requested to allocate budget for Dalits, the people's representatives and officials at the decision-making level are hesitating.

"Last year, some money was allocated, but this year the municipality has not allocated even a single rupee in the name of Dalits," she said, "We cannot do anything for the community when there is no money." 

Executive member of Urlabari municipality Kalpana Roka also says that the budget allocated for Dalits is not enough. "Some amount is allocated, but it is only for the name," she said, "with that amount, it is not possible to bring change in the community."

'Women, tribals, disabled, Dalits are all kept in the same budget,' she said, 'but other groups benefit more than Dalits.'  According to the female leaders participating in the

gathering, although the constitution guarantees inclusive governance, equal access, and Dalit rights, their implementation in practice is seen to be very weak. It was their common understanding that the environment for hearing the voices of Dalit people's representatives was not created in the budget process, they were not given access to decisions and community demands were institutionally ignored.

'When Dalit women were elected as people's representatives, the community had hoped for it,' said Durga Nepali, a member of Kanepokhari rural municipality, 'but it is difficult to meet the community's eye when they themselves have to be pushed out of the decision-making process.' It has been 15 years since the legal declaration of abolition of untouchability. However, in practice, the Dalit community is still suffering from humiliation, neglect and discrimination. 

Durga Sow, the founding president of Fedo, said, "There have been major changes in the country due to monarchy, democracy and republic. But the discrimination against Dalits is the same.

According to him, the declaration of the end of untouchability is limited only in documents, there has not been much change in people's consciousness. "It has been 15 years since our country was declared untouchable," she said, "but in practice it still remains the same." 'Common platform' of people's representatives

According to Sarmila Periyar, President of Dalit Women's Association of Morang, a 'Common Platform' has been formed by the meeting of Dalit women's representatives of Morang. The 14-member committee formed under the chairmanship of Durga Nepali (Kanepakhari), Kalpana Roka (Urlabari), Pavitra Vishwakarma (Miklajung), Anjana Darzi (Ratuwamai), Tunakumari Vishwakarma (Sundarhaicha), Dillimaya Magranti (Sunvarshi) and Sushvu Vishwakarma (Viratnagar), Rekha Kumari Sardar (Budhiganga), Mayakumari Nepali (Letang), and Surjadevi Paswan (Jahda) have become members through the platform The central coordinator of the Dalit Women's Association informed that they have decided to strongly bring forward the voice of women's representatives, create a common strategy and actively intervene in the policy and budget process of the local government