President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav inaugurated the campaign entitled: I commit to end caste discrimination and untouchability.[break]
Speaking at a program organized at Sital Niwas, the president said caste discrimination is a matter of shame for the country. “It is a matter of shame to know that people in the 21st century are still practising caste discrimination and untouchablility,” he said.
The government recently introduced Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2011. NDC and OHCHR partnered in 2008 to jointly advocate for the swift passage of the draft caste-based discrimination and untouchability bill and for its compliance with international standards.
Jyoti Sanghera, Head of OHCHR-Nepal, said the promulgation of the Act is not enough but it should be seriously implemented at the grass roots level.
“There is caste discrimination in remote areas of Nepal so the Act should be implemented with sincerity to eradicate discrimination and untouchability,” Sanghera added.
Similarly, Chairman of National Dalit Commission, Bijul Kumar Bishwokarma, said dalit community has been deprived of opportunities though the community has always played an important role for the development of the country.
Various awareness-raising programs like audio-visual activities, distribution of posters and pamphlets and interaction programs among others will be organized country-wide throughout the 100 days campaign till it comes to an end on 24 December 2011.
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