The South Asian parliamentarians’ conference on Dalit concerns began in Kathmandu on Saturday. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat inaugurated the conference organised by the Asian Dalit Rights Forum. Reiterating the government’s commitment to ending the caste-based discrimination and the practice of “untouchability” from Nepal at the earliest possible, Foreign Minister Mahat said: “The government is committed to banishing the practice of ‘untouchability’.” 

“Dalits in Nepal and other South Asian countries are similarly subjected to harassment therefore unity among the countries of South Asia is necessary for ending this ill-practice from the entire region,” Mahat stressed. 

He also underlined the need of bringing the Dalits, women, indigenous nationalities, Madhesis, Muslims and other oppressed communities into the mainstream of the state and providing them their rights through implementation of the constitution. 

Indian lawmaker Narendra Jadahav spoke of the need of ending all forms of discriminations found in the world and not only the caste discrimination practised within the South Asia region. 

German parliamentarian Omid Nauripur stressed on the educational, economic, social and cultural development of the Dalit community for their uplift. 

Lawmakers from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Germany, Malaysia and other countries are taking part in the two-day conference that will deliberate on the racial discrimination against the Dalits based on their profession and caste. 

The conference will conclude tomorrow issuing the Kathmandu Declaration.