The Future Course Of Dalit Movement

The organised Dalit movement in Nepal began in 2003 BS, marking the start of a long struggle for the rights and recognition of the Dalit community. Despite this, the Dalit population had to wait nearly 70 years to have their basic rights constitutionally guaranteed. Even now, nearly nine years after the promulgation of Nepal’s current constitution, the promises made for Dalit rights remain largely unfulfilled. Articles 24, 40, and 42 of the Constitution of Nepal are specifically dedicated to the rights of Dalits. The Constitution, beginning with its preamble, commits to ending discrimination based on class, caste, region, language, religion, gender, and other social markers, including untouchability, while striving to build an egalitarian society grounded in proportional inclusion and social justice. However, the reality is far from this ideal.