Janakpurdham, May 7: The Dalit women’s provincial-level conference has concluded here on Sunday issuing a 12-point Janakpur Declaration. The gathering of 200 Dalit women from eight districts in Madhesh Province was organized by Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) since last Saturday.
Participants in the Declaration demanded full and effective implementation of the Dalit Empowerment Act and regulations put in place to bring marginalized and backward Dalit women into mainstream thereby minimizing caste-based and gender-based discrimination against Dalit women.
FEDO’s general-secretary Renu Sijapati shared that the conference has pressed for earliest formation of the committees as said in the Dalit Empowerment Act-2076 BS and Dalit Empowerment Regulation-2078 BS and making already-formed committees more active.
Furthermore, the conference demanded to ensure proportional representation of Madheshi Dalit women in all State organs and agencies as enshrined in the Madhesh Province Civil Service Act-2077 BS.
Formation of Land Commission has been called to resolve the issues of landless and homeless Dalit women. One among the 12 points in the Declaration is promoting indigenous skills and market for indigenous products.
“Access of the Dalit women to education should be increased and for that there should be arrangement for free education and hostel for them. Proportional representation should be practiced at leadership level to increase Dalit women’s access to health information, awareness and political participation,” read the Declaration.
The State should ensure that child marriage, dowry system and other harmful practices against women are minimized, inter-caste marriages are encouraged, social security and employment are guaranteed, the Declaration adds.
Earlier during the inaugural session, Madhesh Province’s Minister for Social Development Sarita Kumari Shah had shared that Act to empower Madheshi Dalit community was already in place and the Province government was committed towards enforcing it.
Minister Shah also pledged to make efforts to introduce Madheshi Dalit women-centric programs in the upcoming fiscal year.
The conference elected a nine-member provincial committee led by Rinkudevi Mandal which will coordinate efforts with the provincial and local government and work to hold them to account if need be, said FEDO Founder President, Durga Sob.
