Kathmandu, June 3: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the institutional development of the Dalit Development Authority has been arranged in the policy, program and budget of the next fiscal year for the protection and promotion of the constitutional and legal rights of the Dalit community.

Addressing an interaction program entitled ‘Declaration of Nation free of Untouchability: Opportunities, Implementation and Challenges’ organized on the occasion of the National Day for Elimination of Caste Discrimination and Untouchability held in Kathmandu on Monday, PM Prachanda said that the current government is committed to ensuring the rights of the Dalit community. 

PM Prachanda said, “Poor and academic scholarship programs for Dalit students to study technical education. Similarly, a program and budget have been organized to run a Craft Entrepreneurship Program in all seven provinces to modernize and commercialize the traditional skills, knowledge and professions of Dalit communities. 

Mentioning the need for monitoring of the untouchability cases as well as monitoring mechanisms at all three tiers of the government to eradicate untouchability, PM Prachanda stressed that the country and its agencies need to be presented responsibly for the effective implementation of the constitutional rights of the Dalit community who are suffering from inhuman oppression and cruelty. 

PM Prachanda said that all three government tiers must be responsible for effectively implementing the declaration of an untouchability-free nation.

The PM said, “I make a special appeal to all three tiers of government to organize programs in their policies, programs and budget, make Dalit empowerment programs, to implement the Caste-Based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2068 (2011)effectively.”