Dalit movement against Rautahat case on the wane: Rights activists- Weena Pun

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 -

After the local Dalit Struggle Committee and the non-Dalits signed an agreement to establish social harmony in Pipariya, Rautahat on June 23, a consolidated Dalit movement against the Rautahat incident is on the wane, admit Dalit rights activists.
“After that agreement, it’s been difficult for us to make Rautahat a national issue,” says Durga Sob.
The Rautahat incident can be emblematic in that the implementation of the Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act (2011) can warn against future acts of discrimination, say activists.

Dalit leaders also blame political indifference for the weakening of the anti-discrimination movement. “Without support from the political parties, our protest is getting weaker,” says Binod Pahadi, former lawmaker and a member of the Dalit Civil Society. “Still, we continue to meet with ministers to ensure swifter rehabilitation programmes in Rautahat and Dalit-friendly policies in general.”
On Monday, Dalit Civil Society members met Interim Election Government Chairman Khil Raj Regmi and asked him to revive the Oppressed and Marginalised Dalit District Coordination Committees dissolved on June 12 in preparation for the upcoming CA elections.
“Such committees were dissolved so as not to impress voters, but with their dissolution, Dalits have lost a monitoring agency which could prevent and check acts of caste-based discrimination,” said Pahadi.
Meanwhile, in Rautahat, the Dalit Struggle Committee is gearing up for a meeting on Wednesday to plan fresh protest programmes. The committee has been stressing that the agreement reached with the non-Dalits was only a postponement, and not withdrawal, of its protest programmes.
“Since we saw no significant achievement in terms of relief programmes and apprehension of the accused, we plan to resume our protest,” said Nathuram Pariyar, chairperson of the Dalit Struggle Committee.
source:-ekantipur