KATHMANDU, Nov 4: ‘Media Dialogue Program on Caste-Based Discrimination’ was held on Monday at Yak Party Palace, Lalitpur. The event organized by Sajha Aawaj program was jointly collaborated by Nepal National Dalit Social Welfare Organization (NNDSWO), MAG (Media Advocacy Group), Fin Church Aid (FCA) with  support from the European Union (EU).

Panelists with legal backgrounds, human right activists along with caste-based violence victims from remote areas of Nepal participated at the event. The event aimed at drawing the attention of panelists on the issue and seeking progressive steps in order to alleviate the societal problem. Advocate Subash Acharya highlighted on the first amendment bill of Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability Act,  2075 . He also stressed on neatly addressing the caste-based discrimination in the act.

Following the presentation, Padam Nepali, Subin B K and Sher Bahadur Badi from Kalikot, Surkhet and Jajarkot respectively shared their discriminatory experiences that they have been facing in their society. “In order to the fight against caste-based discrimination, people should primarily change their mindset and come out of the individualism that is weakening the social solidarity,” said Anjana Bisanke, one of the members of the House of Representatives. 

“We have so far adopted many progressive laws and most of them are confined only in words. If we could   implement the ones that we have so far adopted, we could   invite the change that we have been long seeking for,” said Human Rights commissioner, Sudip Pathak.