Dalits' Initiation for New Nepal

Dalits' Initiation for New Nepal

National Citizen Assembly

16-17 June 2007

Balmiki Vidyapeeth

Kathmandu, Nepal

Background:

The country is in a heated disposition today, as everyone looks to claim representation in the government. Currently, the state remains concentrated in the hands of the few. Only a hand-full of people enjoy overall benefits, while Dalits, women, and other marginalized and disadvantaged groups remain curtailed from equal participation.

Upon the establishment of the new government, people from every walk of life believed their grievances would be addressed. However they were disappointed when the eight party coalition led government did not address their issues. The Ethnic People's Movement and the Terai uprisings are the outcomes of the government's failure to do so. Though victimized themselves, Dalits are responding to the current situation. While most groups attempt to simply gain representation, Dalits are organizing a National Citizen Assembly in order to put collective voices and demands to the construction of Nepal's forthcoming constitution.

This assembly is trying to amass Dalits from every facet of life into the capital, in order to discuss Dalit status and present their current demands. This assembly will feature a multitude of sessions and topics focused on different Dalit issues. The Jagaran Media Center (JMC) is managing and working as the capacity of secretariat for this event in unison with other Dalit and pro Dalit organizations.

The Organizers:

Dalit NGO Federation – Nepal (DNF – Nepal)
Jagaran Media Center (JMC)
National Dalit Confederation (NDC)
Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO)
ADWAN
Jana Utthan Pratisthan (JUP)
Dalit Human Rights Organization (DHRO)
Dalit Welfare Association (DWA)
Dalit welfare organizations (DWO )
Sustainable Livelihood Forum (SLF)
Dalit Jana SamaJ
Rastya Dalit Networks ( RDN)
Professional Development and Research Center (PDRC)
C.D.R.D
Janabodh Monthly
Nepali Manch Monthly
Kathmandu Patra Weekly
Ekata Foundation

Objectives:

Ø To initiate discussion on the module of New Nepal

Ø To discuss Dalit core agendas

Ø To put pressure on other political parties

Ø To fashion the state module into a federal government system

Ø To collect a multitude of perspectives in order to facilitate an inclusive and proportional state module

Ø To gather ordinary people for the creation of vivid discussions on the Dalits' agendas

Participants:

The assembly is attempting to include each district of the country to meet its objectives, with Dalits from all walks of life sitting down together. Approximately 10 Dalits per district are planned to participate in the assembly which will include representatives of organizations, intellectuals, activists, and political parties among others. This variation of participants is guaranteed to produce a comprehensive set of Dalit agendas.

Central level leaders from the major political parties are invited and expected to participate and deliver their speeches. International delegates working for the rights of Dalits are also invited and are likely to participate in the assembly.

Module of the program:

The assembly is organized for 2 days. The opening ceremony will be done by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala (TBC) , Maoists Chairperson Prachanda, and Senior leader of 8 political parties, jointly. It will then be followed by a reading of the messages of international dignitaries. Different parallel sessions will be organized in the first day. On the 2^nd day of the program, the agendas of Dalits for CA will be presented. The closing ceremony will be conducted by Speaker of the House, Suvash Nembang.

Main session

S.N.	Theme	Presenter	Contact no.	Commentator	Coordination	Contact no.	Reporter	Contact no.
1.	Constituent assembly & New Constitution Making Process	Yubaraj Sangraula	4432729	Durga Sob, Govinda Bandi, Ghanashyam Bhusal, Bhimarjun Acharya	Shyam Bishwakarma	9841317959	Laxmi Nepali, Yaman Pariyar	4289370 9851000397
2.	Dalits and the Federal government system	Aahuti	9803291315	Bijay Karna, Rajkumar Gandarva, Dr. Krishna Bdr. Bhattachan	Dilip Nepali	9841338930	Prakash Pariyar	9841487236
3.	Reservation and special rights	Yam Bdr. Kisan	9841320726	Bhaskar Gautam, Dhankumari Sunar, Sambhojan Limbu	Rem Bishwakarma	9851086809	Ram Nepali, Kamal Pariyar	9841440302 9841476027
4.	Effective reach of Dalits in natural resources	Hari Roka	9841516806	Purna Nepali, Gokarna Bhatta, Prakash Jwala	Suvash Kumar Darnal	9851050667	Mina Shankar, Lalit Pariyar	2022558 9841610837
5.	Social Economic and cultural rights	Raj Kumar Trikhatri	9851070410	Tek Tamrakar, Subodhraj Pyakurel, Ashok Maharjan	Sudesh Kumar Siwa	9841711663	Sapana Siwa, Tilak Sunar	9803294125 9841556279

Parallel thematic sessions

S.N.	Theme	Presenter	Contact no.	Commentator	Coordination	Reporter	Contact no.
1.	Women	Anjana Bisankhe	9841608090	Laxmi Pariyar, Sujata Pariyar, Nira Jairu, Saraswoti Nepali, Tanuja Ghale	Gaura Nepali, Durga Sob	Seema Nepali	9841554603
2.	Madesh	Asarfi Sada	9841602576	Mahendra Paswan, Binod Bisankhe, Buddhi Paswan	Yaduni Das, Baldev Ram	Sunil Shah	9852831548
3.	Youth	Govinda Pariyar	9841319784	Sita Mijar, Arjun Ratna Pariyar, Bishnu Khatri	Ram Nepali	Balu Thapa (Nepali)	9841444612
4.	Dalit and citizenship	Binod Gurung	9851069193	Arjun Thapaliya, Durga Bishwakarma, Jukti Marik	Maya Singh Nepali	Devendra Nepali	2081609
5.	Land and Dalit	Jagat Deuja	9851015145	Suresh Nepal, Ganesh Ram, Bir Bdr. BK	Baldev Ram
6.	Rural Dalit	Ganesh Lohar	4486026	Basanta Pariyar, Brahmasingh Nepali	Megh Pariyar, Ram ji	Bishnu Nepali	9841354818
7.	Dalit and Media	Binod Pahadi	9851017673	Prakash Chandra Pariyar, Pabitra Sunar, Buddhi B.K., Tilak Sunar	Kamal Pariyar	Kamal Babu Pariyar	9841481835
8.	Occupation and Dalit	Ganesh B.K.	9858420630	Prem Darnal, Dulari Harijan, Puspa Badi	Lalit Pariyar	Mina Shankar	2022558
9.	Education and Dalit	Dr. Bidhyanath Koirala	4476971 / 4428652	Roshan Acchame, Lokesh B.K., Birendra B.K, Yaman Pariyar	Om Adhikari	Bimala Bishwakarma	4289370
10.	Newari Dalit	Ram krishna Deula		Ram Pujari, Shanta Nepali, Mithaidevi BK	Ramhari Shahi Samundari	Jeet Gahatraj	2324511
11.	NGO's and Dalit	Motilal Nepali	9851043128	Durga Darji, Shivji Gayak, Sher Bdr. Parki	Birendra Senchuri	D.B. Rasaily	9841494652
12.	Politics and Dalit	Gokarna Bhatta	4267315	Rajendra Gautam, Sunita Marik, Shambu Ranapaal	Purna Baraily	Rajkumar Pariyar	9841452092
13.	Dalit human rights	Janga Nepali	9851001154	Shyam BK, Mohan Shah Shankar	Urmila B.K.	Prakash Pariyar	9841487236

Other Activities:

i. Art Exhibition

ii. Cultural Show

iii. Film Festival

iv. Book Exhibition

For More information: Suvash Darnal: Jagaran Media Center.

Buddhanagar, ktm. Ph. 4780005 , email – info@jagaranmedia.org.np