Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' announced the establishment of the Dalit Development Authority in the policies and budget for the upcoming fiscal year, aimed at protecting and promoting the constitutional and statutory rights of the Dalit community.

Speaking at an interaction event titled 'Declaration of Nation Free of Untouchability: Opportunities, Implementation, and Challenges' on the National Day for the Elimination of Caste Discrimination and Untouchability, PM Dahal reaffirmed the government's commitment to Dalit rights.

The Prime Minister emphasized the inclusion of programs and budgets designed to encourage Dalit students through the 'poor and meritorious scholarship scheme' and to modernize and commercialize traditional Dalit skills through the 'artisan entrepreneurship special program' across all seven provinces.

He stressed the need for an 'untouchability watch and monitoring mechanism' at all government levels to eradicate untouchability practices, urging state agencies to effectively implement laws against caste discrimination. PM Dahal called for the development and implementation of Dalit empowerment programs by all tiers of government to ensure the enforcement of the untouchability-free nation declaration.

Highlighting the importance of providing special rights and compensation to the Dalit community, PM Dahal argued that addressing historical injustices and achieving equality require positive discrimination measures. He pointed out that the state had historically marginalized Dalits through discriminatory policies and laws, resulting in their socio-economic backwardness compared to other communities.

At the event, PM Dahal released a book titled 'Mero Jeevan Ra Sangharsha (My Life and Struggle)', based on the life of Province Chief Tilak Pariyar, a prominent figure in the Dalit and communist movements. The Prime Minister acknowledged his long-standing advocacy within his party for special rights and proportional representation for Dalits to elevate their status and ensure their development alongside other communities. He emphasized that the need for these special rights has become widely recognized and established.