What is caste discrimination?
In the Nepali society, there is a community which is not considered part of human society (popularly known as 'Dalits' now a days are considered untouchables), but instead, this community is considered something less than human. The community members generally perform the most menial and degrading jobs. So called the higher caste rules hold that these 'lower caste' pollute higher caste people even with their presence. If 'higher caste' Hindus touch an untouchable or even come within these individual's shadow, they must undergo rigorous series of cleansing rituals. To make the story short, this inhuman behaviour is practised in Nepal even in this 21st century.
Approximately 4.5 million (a full 20% of the population), fall in this martinalized minority community. In a country where everybody is supposed to have equal rights and opportunities, one out of four people is condemned to be untouchable, unfornately.
Although the Nepali Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms for all Nepalese regardless of caste and gender, these marginalized communities are systematically abused. They are poor, deprived and socially backward. Their most basic needs of food, shelter, and safety are not fulfilled. They also cannot access decent education and employment. The systematic denial of their basic human rights results in a lack of education, food, healthcare, and economic opportunity, thereby keeping oppressed people in perpetual bondage to the upper castes.
Announcements
June 1, 2006
**NASO Community is launching a membership campaign all over the United States and Canada. We encourage all community members to be members of NASO Community. The membership fee is tax deductable.
Please wait for more information on this campaign!!