Singha Durbar's Casteist Mindset Stalls Dalit Surname Listing: National Dalit Commission Breaks Silence
The National Dalit Commission reveals that the listing of Dalit surnames has been delayed seven times due to casteist officials in Singha Durbar, sparking outrage in Kathmandu.
The long-awaited listing of Dalit surnames in Nepal has hit a frustrating wall, with the National Dalit Commission exposing a deep-seated bureaucratic barrier. Commission Chairperson Devraj Bishwakarma announced that the process remains stalled despite the commission recommending the official list to the government seven times, attributing the delay directly to the casteist mindset of officials within Singha Durbar.
Seven Repeated Recommendations, Zero Progress
According to Bishwakarma, the National Dalit Commission has acted in strict accordance with the National Dalit Commission Act, 2074, yet the government has failed to move forward. The commission has formally submitted the list of Dalit surnames on seven separate occasions, but each attempt has been met with inaction. This persistent stagnation has drawn sharp criticism from the Active Dalit Journalists Association Nepal, which helped coordinate the interaction program in Kathmandu where the statement was made.
The Hidden Cost of Casteist Thinking
The delay is not merely a bureaucratic oversight; it represents a significant failure to recognize the identity of the Dalit community. The surnames of the Dalit caste in Nepal include various names such as Nepali, Kami, Damai, and Sarki. When officials refuse to list these names, they effectively obscure the presence of these communities in official records. This echoes past concerns raised during census operations, where Dalits living in rented homes were hesitant to reveal their caste due to fear of discrimination, leading to a massive misrepresentation of the community in final reports.
A Call for Institutional Change
Bishwakarma's statement underscores that the problem lies within the upper echelons of the government. The 'casteist mindset' described is a systemic issue that prevents the implementation of laws designed to protect marginalized groups. As the commission continues to push for recognition, the pressure mounts on Singha Durbar to address this bias and finally approve the surname list. Without this change, the Dalit community remains denied a crucial step toward official identity and social equity.