Caste-based discrimination in Nepal - International Dalit Solidarity ...

Caste-based Discrimination in Nepal
Krishna B. Bhattachan, Tej B. Sunar and Yasso Kanti Bhattachan(Gauchan)
(Hachhethu 2006). The recent records reveal that Dalit representation in the
central committees of parties are 2.7% in NC, 1.7% in NCP-UML, 2.2% in NC-D,
and 3.0% in CPN-Maoist. Dalits representation is 4% in district chapters of
political parties. Table 20.
Table 19: Caste/Ethnic Composition of Central Committee Member
Caste/Ethnic/
Regional Groups NC NC
(Democratic)
Hill caste
Major Political Parties
CPN RPP People's
(UML)
Front
NWPP NSP Total %
Bahun 18 9 30 9 17 2 0 85 38.3
Chhetri/Thakuri 3 12 2 10 3 2 0 32 14.4
Sanyasi 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 4 1.8
Newar 1 2 6 3 4 5 0 21 9.4
Hill ethnic 4 5 4 7 8 0 0 28 12.7
Terai
3 7 1 5 2 0 31 49 22.1
communities
Dalit 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 1.3
Total 29 37 43 34 39 9 31 222 100.0
Source: Adapted from IIDS. 2000. The Fourth Parliament Election, Kathmandu: Institute
for Integrated Development Studies.
Table 20: Parties’ District Level Committees and Representation of Dalit
Caste/
Ethnic
Name of Parties
N. Janmorch CPN(ML) RRP
CPN(UML) Nepali
Congress
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Brahmin 17 85.0 6 35.20 5 29.41 7 70.0 4 36.66 39 52.0
Chhetri 2 10.0 5 29.41 7 41.17 1 10.0 3 27.27 18 24.0
Mager 0 0.0 6 35.30 3 17.64 0 0.0 4 36.36 13 17.33
Newar 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 5.88 1 10.0 0 0.0 2 2.66
Dalit 1 5.0 0 0.0 1 5.88 1 10.0 0 0.0 3 4
Total 20 100.0 17 100.0 17 99.98 10 100.0 11 99.99 75 99.99
Source: Sunar, 2002
Total
Existing problems: According to Bidhyanath Koirala, the main problems of
lower participation of Dalits in politics include predominant control of political
parties by “upper” caste people; lack of initiatives by political parties to
increase participation and representation of the Dalits; lack of unity among
Dalits, social issues occupying least priority from the political parties;
predominance of Brahmanism in all political institutions; lack of political will
for substantial social change; and political parties trying to keep Dalit
Movements within their control. Similarly Sunar (2002) has also pointed out
that poor economic status of the Dalits, discriminatory caste system, prejudiced
mindset of non-Dalits, elite control in decision making process, poor educational
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