NASO Community Workshop, February 27, 2007

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Seminar/Workshop of
NASO Community
Held on Feb 17, 2007 at Waldorf, MD.

This was one of the largest gatherings forty-seven concerned people living in metro- DC area and New York, who are committed to create a casteless society, attended the meeting. The meeting had almost one full day agenda. Mr. Dharam Biswakarma, President of NASO Community presided the meeting.

The meeting was started with an introduction of participants and welcome notes. This was followed by a walk-through of meeting agenda. As a pre-face of the meeting, Mr. DB Sagar and Advocate Mr. Dinesh Tripathi gave presentations.


Summary of Mr. D. B. Sagar’s presentation

Analysis of Current Situation of Oppressed Community and its movement achievements and future directions –By D.B. Sagar

Following agendas are identified to proceed by the current Movement (in the context of political situation in Nepal)

· Special electoral constituencies should be provisioned and an election be organized among victims of caste system in the above constituencies to allow them to take part in the competitive election process.

· Affirmative policies/Reservation for an equal access and equal opportunities to those people who were the victims of caste system for several hundred years.

· Establishment of a constitutional body at the national level to look after the process of creating casteless society.

· National Development Council to address the development problems of victims of caste system: This will primarily focus to address the health, education and economic development and awareness raising related problems.

· Secularism. – nation should bring programs to implement the secularism.
F. Proportionate representation of excluded groups in the political parties - at all levels of party structure. This should be one of the requirements to register political parties and it should be monitored time to time.

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Summary of
Advocate Mr. Dinesh Tripathi’s presentation:

Challenges and Opportunities for Oppressed Community in the changing socio-political context.

• The society has been neglected and ignored for their rights to live as a human being. It basically refers the rights for a dignified life. Any nation that does not have dignified citizens it can’t be called a dignified nation. A society that practices discrimination it can’t be called a civilized society. The biggest agenda is simply to have the rights to be a human being.

• This time is critically important in the history (rewriting of constitution). We should not miss this opportunity that will correct the discrimination practice. Every one of us needs to work together to bring this change in the society.

• A nation can’t rise as long as the shameful or disgraceful situation like caste-based discrimination remains in the country.
  
  Using above discussed two presentations as preface, participants were divided into three small groups to discuss the following topics and present their discussion in larger plenary meeting.

1. Role to be played by NASO Community to support and complement the oppressed community movement in Nepal that will bring a positive change.

2. Assistance/Support to be provided by NASO Community to those from oppressed community visiting/living in the United States and Canada.

3. A plan to make NASO Community an effective and responsible organization represents the oppressed community of Nepal at the international level.

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Group One

Group Facilitator: Mrs. Chandra Sonar

Objective: Identify NASO Community’s role and niches to support and complement the oppressed community movement in Nepal that will bring a positive change.

Group Findings -

NASO Community should consider following Activities at the international level:

• Actively organize Press Releases in national and International news medias about the events and happening related to oppressed community in Nepal.

• Organize meetings/workshops and make presentations to disseminate oppressed community agendas at international level. Moreover, share and distribute stories, plans, pains and agendas of oppressed community with outside world utilizing different approaches.

• Advocate and lobby with the USA lawmakers, influential individuals and human rights organizations as well as international NGOs to create awareness about Nepal’s Oppressed peoples’ problems and issues and direct their support to have a policy impact in Nepal.
  
  NASO Community should consider following Activities at the national level:

1. Initiate and support the Education scholarship program
   - Establish web based library with reports and books, articles and journals about the oppressed community

2. Coordinate with political leaders, social activists, intellectuals, NGOs and others for the overarching common agendas of oppressed community

3. Pilot innovative and creative programs by identifying niches

4. Organize and support the research and studies about the oppressed communities that has historical, political and programmatic importance

5. Mutual dialogue within intra oppressed communities through seminar and meeting to create social harmony.

6. Establish close links with all facets of people and organizations concerned for oppressed communities and represent them at the international level

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Group Two

Facilitator: DB Sagar
Presenter: Dr. Dan Bishwakarma

Objective: Find out how NASO Community can provide support/assistance to those from the oppressed communities visiting/living in the United States and Canada

Group Findings:

In order to support the individuals from the oppressed communities who are visiting USA and Canada, NASO Community should consider to support in the following areas:

• Legal/Immigration Counseling: NASO Community can help provide legal and immigration help either by the community members or experts
• Legal/Immigration Seminars: NASO Community can organize seminars by inviting legal experts on these issues.
• Accidents/Funeral: Financial and moral support in case of emergency like accidents and funeral, NASO Community can support in every way it can for anyone in need.
• Accommodation: People visiting from outside Canada or USA, NASO Community can support them by helping to find or prove accommodation initially.
• Know How information package: NASO Community could collect/prepare know how information package for new comers or visitors.

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Group Three

Facilitator: Dinesh Tripathi

Objective: Priority activities to make NASO Community an effective and responsible organization, which would represent the oppressed community of Nepal at the international level.

Group Findings:

In order to make NASO Community an effective and strong organization, it should consider the following two areas:

· Financial Resources: NASO Community can raise fund from the following activities:
-Membership:
-Life Membership
-Family Membership
-Individual Membership

· Well-wisher membership (all individuals)
· Donor Agencies:
-Institutional Donor Agencies
-Individual Donors
-Fund Raising
-Cultural Programs
-Movie shows
-Yard sales
-Grant Proposals:

· Organizational Strengthening Activities: In order to strengthen NASO Community as an organization, the following activities should be carried out:

-By Laws: Review and revised, if necessary, to make sure that it has met all the legal criteria.
-Lobbying:
-With Congressman –in USA and Canada
-With human rights organizations (national and international)
-NGOs/INGOs

· Networking:
-by Email/Email Groups
-by Conference Calls
-Sharing ideas by blogs
-Seminars and Talk program
-NASO Community Office:
-In USA
· NASO Chapter:
-In Canada, different states of USA and Nepal
-Publication: Publish various NASO literatures like press release,

brochure and so on.

Mr. Amrit Sunar from New York highlighted the need to grow and strengthen NASO Community as an organization.

A summary of Dr. Ramesh Sunar’s letter was presented in the meeting.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Dharam Bishwokarma, President of NASO Community concluded the meeting by thanking everyone. Also, he announced the NASO Community’s decision to establish an Advisory Board and unopposed nomination of Amrit Sunar as one of the Advisory Board member.