View Point (Spotlight Weekly)

Status of Dalits in Nepal

By Dr. Niranjan Prasad Upadhyay

Who is Dalit?

The Dalits form the lowest caste in the Hindu caste hierarchy. They are also usually known as "untouchables." Since Dalits perform menial tasks; traditional societies consider them "unclean." Higher castes are thus required to avoid close contact with Dalits, leading to a generations-old segregation of society. The Dalit caste has further been divided into different groupings in accordance with the type of work the groups are supposed to do. For example, communities engaged in tailoring, or playing musical instruments, or communities involved in washing clothes, or in making clay pots, or working with metal will be given different family names in accordance to the type of work they do. Dalits are often referred to as the occupational or artisan caste. Yet, studies have demonstrated that the life of the Dalits in the Terai region of Nepal includes Dom, Dusadh, Musahar, Chamar, Tatma, Khatwe and Dhobi. The Tenth Plan constitutes the first plan of the 21st century, and the third millennium. The Tenth Plan is the third one in order after the restoration of democracy. In this context, strategies are directed towards achieving the set goal through participatory development process together with establishing the effective role of women in the national economic and social development, mainstreaming the down-trodden and ethnicities in the development process, and clearly defining the role of government, local bodies, the private sector, non-governmental organization and the civil societies.

Discriminations are meted out against Dalits in almost every sphere of life in Nepal, including marriage, religious practice, access to land, and access to education. It has been noted that despite government action to ban certain forms of discrimination, the caste system still takes a huge toll on Dalits in Nepal. Inside the Dalit community of Nepal, there are eight key caste groups and twenty-five recognized sub-castes. Some NGOs have estimated that the total Dalit population stands at around 4.5 million, or 21 percent of Nepal’s population.

Caste discrimination and humanity

Caste discrimination is a shocking crime against humanity which is based on a false ideological construct sanctioned by religion and culture which affects 260 million Dalits in South Asia, as well as others in the Asia Pacific and African regions at the personal, social and structural levels, irrespective of their religious affiliation. World Conference Against Racism (2001) remarks that caste is a historically entrenched form of discrimination based on descent and occupation that results in segregation of communities, including the stigmatization of certain of these communities as 'untouchable', allowing for flagrant violations of human rights and dignity of members of these communities, and making them, especially women, vulnerable to the most barbaric forms of violence.

Studies on Dalit

Researchers have shown that in Nepal 50 percent of the people are literate, but only 11 percent of Nepal's Dalits can read and write. Life expectancy in Nepal is only 58 years. Per capita income in Nepal is low at US$ 210, but Dalits can expect to earn only about US$ 40 per year. While 40 percent of the population is below the absolute poverty line, an estimated 80 percent of Dalits are living in extreme poverty. Dalit women face even more extreme poverty, humiliation and deprivation than their male counterparts.

Nepal is heavily dependent on tourism and development aid for survival, but even this income does not reach the Dalits. Few international aid agencies have developed a caste analysis for their programs that would ensure that development dollars reach the Dalits. Even the government's own funds for Dalit development have not actually reached the Dalit community - 3 million rupees (US$ 50,310) of Dalit development aid evaporated before it was seen by any Dalits in a 1999 government project (Tim Gill, Asian Human Rights Commissions-Human Rights Solidarity, 2003). Dalits do not have a history of violence, but they are beginning to see that the promises of the government have done nothing to bring them closer to equality with the rest of the population.

Attitude towards Dalit

Lutheran World Federation Nepal Program highlights that the ongoing discrimination of Dalits in Nepali society proves a major obstacle to the overall human development in the country. Deep-rooted beliefs about the impurity of Dalits have been difficult to transform. There are recurring incidents of discrimination at public water taps, restaurants, milk cooperatives (milk supplied by Dalits is refused).

In 1990 with the restoration of a multi-party democratic system in Nepal, the Constitution not only guaranteed fundamental rights to all people but it also declared the traditional practice of untouchability punishable by law. However the impact of this change is not apparent, especially when 90% of all Dalit communities are in rural areas. Even in urban areas, Dalit people continue to be subject to the rules of "untouchability." This type of discrimination continues at all levels of society.

Caste-based Discrimination Civil Code Prohibitions

Unequal treatment of Dalits by the government is prohibited. The Civil Code also prohibits some forms of discrimination against Dalits, but excludes places of religious practice from the scope of the act. Despite these provisions, caste and caste-based discrimination remains a central feature of life and social interaction in Nepal, and the government regularly fails to prosecute individuals who engage in caste-based discrimination. Dalits are victims of targeted attacks. Police officials frequently fail to investigate reports of violence against Dalits, and perpetrators of attacks on Dalits often go unpunished. Dalits in Nepal face a powerful combination of social discrimination and violence that enforces their second-class status.

High caste groups are traditionally educated and hold religious and bureaucratic jobs, while Dalits are often illiterate and perform skilled labor, unskilled labor and service jobs. Dalits are blacksmiths, tailors, laborers, shoemakers, artisans, musicians, farmers, entertainers, cleaners, butchers, and prostitutes. Collective Campaign For Peace (2003) has postulated that 94% of government jobs are held by Brahmins, and the foreign trade sector is similarly dominated by the high castes. Urban Dalits have a very difficult time breaking into professional jobs, including the business and NGO sectors, so many choose unemployment or join the Maoists. Discrimination exists on all levels. Most non-Dalits still refuse to eat or drink anything touched by a Dalit.

Concluding Remarks

The Tenth Plan also stresses a poverty reduction strategy based on social sector development with emphasis on human development, targeted programs with emphasis on social inclusion and improved governance. The implementation modalities initiated are expected to succeed particularly in delivering basic services, enhancing the quality of life of the poor people and promoting economic and social inclusion of deprived communities and regions.

(Dr. Upadhyay is a joint secretary at the Public Service Commission)