Although the caste system was made illegal in 1962 in Nepal, it is
still very much active throughout the country. The caste system is
firmly embedded into Nepali culture in a complex structure that is
difficult to untangle.
It combines many different elements which strive to maintain a level
of inequality and difference between ethnicities and groups based on
birth right, ethnicity, occupation, power and financial assets. Although
it’s easy for the so called ‘global west’ to criticize the caste system
prominent in Asia, in reality the west has a caste system of its own
usually referred to as class which is also based on birth right,
ethnicity, occupation, power and financial assets. Arguably though it
appears easier in the west to climb the social class ladder whereas in
Nepal it is determined by birth.
One such group who struggles to shed the stigma cast upon them by the
abolished caste system are Dalit’s, the so called ‘untouchable caste’
who are major victims of caste based discrimination. In the Far West
hilly District of Doti, where the overall adult literacy rate is 42%,
some Dalit women are suffering discrimination
three fold; firstly
because of their Dalit caste, secondly because they are women and
thirdly because their families are infected with HIV/AIDS.
Sashi Sob resides in Doti and is District Chairperson of the Feminist
Dalit Organisation, a national organisation which was set up in 1994 to
“fight against caste and gender discrimination and to construct a just
and equitable society”. The Femimist Dalit Organisation is a member of
Sankalpa Women’s Alliance for Peace, Justice and Democracy. It has
defined itself as “Mission 50/50”, meaning proportionate and
representative participation of women at all levels of the peace process
and all state structures.
Sashi has noticed a trend in men seeking work outside of Doti to the
neighbouring country of India. Local men are migrating to India for
seasonal and long term work as labourers and security guards. Whilst
working in the major cities of India the Nepali migrants are visiting
the local brothels in which they are exposed to Sexually Transmitted
Diseases (STDs) such as HIV. As the migrant workers are not educated
they are clueless to the dangers that they are exposing themselves to
and consequently on their return to Doti they risk infecting their wives
as well. When the men fall sick they believe that their ancestors are
mad at them for visiting the brothels to have sex with prostitutes and
are punishing them by making them sick, oblivious to the fact that they
have contracted HIV. It is not common practice in Doti for people to
seek medical help from health posts and hospitals. Consequently by the
time they seek medical help, HIV has already developed into AIDS leading
to death.
Sashi recalled the story of one Doti Dalit husband who migrated to
Kerala, India and found another wife who he brought back to Doti to join
his first wife. He had contracted HIV whilst working in India and had
transmitted the disease to his new wife from Kerala; it was not
confirmed if he had passed HIV on to his first wife, though the
likelihood was high. The arrogance of bringing back a new wife is a good
example of how some men regard their wife, i.e. with little respect. In
another story Sashi spoke of a Doti wife who, after her husband had
died of AIDS, was accused of gulping down her husband. It was not until
community mediators became involved that they were able to convince the
family of the truth behind the husband’s death.
The majority of men from Doti who migrate to India are Dalit as they
are less likely to own land in which they can earn a living and are
limited to employment opportunities due to their so called caste. Out of
approximately the 800 people that are infected by HIV and AIDS in Doti
approximately two thirds are Dalit. For Dalit women whose husbands die
from AIDS this adds a forth layer of discrimination against them, i.e.
being a widow.
Sashi Sob stated that if there were more employment opportunities for
men in Doti then they would not have to migrate to India for work and
if there was more awareness raising on safe sex and medical treatment
for HIV then this would reduce the risk of infection. She didn’t mention
the fact that men were committing adultery by having sex with
prostitutes in brothels. Maybe this has been accepted as normal
behaviour in Nepal, though it would be a different story if women were
committing adultery, another opportunity for discrimination.
Source: Sankalpa – Women’s Alliance for Peace, Justice and Democracy
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