Untitled - Care Nepal

GENDER & CASTE
DISCRIMINATION
Dalit and non dalit work together; the wages
are some how similar in most of the places.
But when the food is given to the Dalits,
they receive food separately. Brahmin and
Chettri do not touch the Dalits. When Dalits
try to question this behavior they get
intimidated. Dalit who are discriminated
feel very inferior. This person is
discouraged. He/she is not able to speak out
the issues. More interestingly, there is
remaining discrimination among Dalits
themselves. For instance, Pariyar does not
eat the foods offered by BK. Being somehow
liberal, communities of Dalit and non dalit
have found to be using common wells but
there have been conflicts when both Dalit
and non-dalit together fetch the water from
the same well.
In regards of the discrimination committed
by B/C to Dalit, participants mentioned that
they (B/C) are in the economically strong
position compared to the Dalits and Janajatis.
The reasons for being richer are;
• Most resources are captured by B/C
• The policies and social structures
provided much more opportunities to
the B/C earlier
• Hence they are educated therefore aware
and skilled to use capital
• Janajati more fun-loving; engaged in
entertainment; do not have practice of
savings.
• Dalit are oppressed groups. The division
of labor put them lowest in the caste
strata. Hence Dalit have no or limited
exposure to socio-economic
opportunities.
One of the participants said that when
insulted and discriminated, we feel bad. We
wish for the society to be educated. When
we are not allowed inside the house we feel
like going inside the house and touching
the things. The discrimination between
Dalit and non dalit is guided by age old
traditional practice.
40
Psychosocial Issues of
Women affected by conflict