Govt announces special budget for Dalit community

KATHMANDU: The government has allocated special budget for the Dalit community.

While presenting the budget statement at the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament on Tuesday, Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun announced that Rs 200 million has been set aside for the establishment of 'Dalit Development Authority'.

Dalit rights activists have welcomed the budget allocation for the Dalit community. Rights activist Ganesh BK remarked that the Dalit-specific budget is a step in the right direction, although it falls short of what is needed.

During his budget presentation, Finance Minister Pun clarified that the institutional framework of the Dalit Development Authority will be established to help enforce the constitutional rights of the Dalit community. The budget of Rs 200 million will be invested in initiatives for job creation and livelihood development, with the aim of modernising the indigenous skills, knowledge, and profession of the Dalit community.

Rights activist Dhan Kumari Sunar suggested that the budget could be effective if the initiative is not influenced by politics.

However, writer and activist Sushil BK voiced his concern that the budget failed to address the issue of Dalits who are landless.

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