Dalits, Human Rights and Development: A Case Study of Hill Dalits

Abstract

In many ways, Nepal is an example of multi-cultural country in which people from a wide range of different caste and ethnic groups have been lived. Dalits belongs to Shudra in Hindu caste system. They are considered as lower caste in Hindu caste hierarchy. They are assigned to certain occupation. Because of the lack of farmland their livelihood depends upon artisan occupation and wage work. Because of untouch ability and caste discrimination they are prohibited in many social and cultural spheres. Their participation in any development programme and decision making process is very few. Their levels of literacy, income, and life expectancy are very low than other caste group people. They are not enjoying their basic human rights and are not getting benefits of development. Human rights are equal for all citizens. The rights to development focuses active and meaningful participation of people in any development programme and people should get equal benifits of development programme. State has also implemented many plans, policies and programmes regarding human rights and development. So, the aim of this study is to explore the relationship between human rights and development indicator such as health, education, participation in decision making process with reference to the Dalits, accountability of the state for the protection ofbasic human rights of Dalits and also tries to get the information about the Dalit’s perception towards human rights, development and social discrimination. For this purpose Dadangaun, Nayagaun and Sirjana Basti of Daman VDC of Makwanpur district was selected for study area. There are 57 households of Dalits. A census wascarried out for this research. Both primary and secondary data were used for this research purpose. Primary data was collected through non-participant structured observation, household census, key informant interview and six focus group discussions which included the group of male, female, literate, illiterate, Dalits whowork traditional occupation and who work other occupation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the data. Quantitative data were analyzed through simple percentage analysis. Qualitative data was analyzed through interpretive method. Caste based social discrimination is still alive in the study area. Because of prohibition in occupation most of the Dalits are doing their traditional occupation.Besides traditional occupation they are working as wage laborers. They have noaccess to any other services. Most of the Dalits have few lands. Because of their low income source, it has affected their health and educational status. Only few Dalits have access to get secondary and higher education. It is the right of people to participate in any development programme but none of Dalits of study area are involved in any decision making process of any development programme which shapes their life. They hesitate to participate in decision making because of being Dalits, lack of education and lack of information of development activities. Dalitsof the study area have not got any kind of training for their skill development. They are also not getting benefit of human and social development despite the government plans, policy and programme. They are not enjoying the basic human rights and fundamental rights. Because caste based social discrimination is still alive in society.It has affected their human and social development. The seminars are being organized regarding upliftment, empowerment and rights of backward communities but still they are struggling for their basic rights. Nepal has already ratified more than eighteen international covenants and treaties on human rights. The constitution of Nepal has also secured the fundamental human rights in its constitution. It has also pay attention to the participation of backward groups in state mechanisms and to eliminate any kind of racial discrimination.National development plans have also focused to eliminate social discrimination and to empower Dalits and indigenous people through different development programmes such as scholarship in education, skill development training, credit facility, social awareness programme, reservation programme etc. But still it has been ineffective to the Dalits. Their participation in development mechanism,constitutional provisions relating to equality of opportunities has been still a mererhetoric. I hope this dissertation will play a role to get the information about the state’s accountability of human rights and development programmes towards Dalits and also tounderstand the relationship between human rights and development.