Decade-long struggle

There needs to be a clear-eyed scrutiny of the functioning of the seven inclusion commissions.

When the Constitution of Nepal was promulgated in 2015, it brought with it many hopes for the country’s historically marginalised groups, including Dalits, Janajatis, women, Muslims, Tharus and Madheshis. Article 27 established six designated commissions, along with the National Inclusion Commission. The goal was to elevate the social standings of these communities by addressing the systemic injustices they faced. The constitution will be a decade-old this September. The mandated review of these commissions, as outlined in Article 265 , is thus on the cards. Only a comprehensive review can determine if the objectives for the formation of these commissions have been met—and, if not, what to do about it.