Draft of Dalit Rights Bill soon, Law Minister says

            Kathmandu, Nov 18: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anil Kumar Sinha has pledged to formulate the draft of the bill on rights of Dalit community as early as possible.

            At a meeting of the Development, Economic Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the National Assembly on Monday, Minister Sinha expressed commitment to prepare the draft of the bill following the lawmakers’ concerns on failure to implement the rights of the Dalit community even after a decade of the new constitution.

            Minister Sinha stated that the bill will be drafted in a way making it a ready document to table in the new House of Representatives (HoR) adding that the draft of the bill has received a nod from the Finance Ministry. “The draft of the bill is in the final stage. We will complete the remaining tasks soon,” Law Minister Sinha mentioned.

            Chair of the Committee, Kamaladevi Pant, said that the government has been directed to make environment to immediately implement the concept of Dalit Development Authority and to formulate the bill as per the Article 40 of the Constitution.

            Committee member Bamdev Gautam said that it was unfortunate that the discrimination against the Dalit community has not ended yet. 

            The state should draft the laws and implement them to bring about positive changes in the status of the Dalit community, another member of the committee Narayankaji Shrestha said.

            Likewise, committee member Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma said the state itself was apathetic to ensure justice to the Dalit community though there were provisions in favor of the Dalit community in the constitution. “This is a state-led discrimination against Dalit,” he added.

            Similarly, committee member Tul Prasad Bishwakarma said the Dalit community is being oppressed by feudalism though republic was established by abolishing monarchy.

            Committee member Urmila Aryal, Puja Chaudhary, Ghanshyam Rijal and others shared their views asking the government to bring the bill as per the spirit of the fundamental rights stated in the constitution.

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