The incidents of caste discrimination and untouchability are continued unabated in rural areas in the district. Conservative thoughts and superstitions are behind such incidents.
Although the Constitution of Nepal- 2015 has finely mentioned that no one would be discriminated against based on the caste, the Dalits here have expressed worry that the offering they made to a temple was rejected reasoning that they were Dalits.
The puja and prayers are conducted every Saturday and Sunday at Shiva Temple which was reconstructed with assistance from all communities.
A local Sita BK said the Dalits were not allowed to make offerings at the temple in the name of caste status. It is sheer discrimination against Dalit people, she added. The offering of milk and 'haluwa' were not allowed inside the temple.
The priest at the temple provided tika without touching Dalit devotees.
Even the non-Dalit people had urged the priest to not mete out discrimination.
However, priest Chhabilal Panthi defied the allegation. He had not done discrimination against the Dalit people at the temple.
Mankala Sunar shared the plight that both Dalit and non-Dalit people had contributed to the reconstruction of the temple, but why Dalits were biased in public places.
Sunar also accused the priest of denying flowers and prasad at the temple.
The social activists had asked the priest to ensure equal treatment for both Dalit and non-Dalit visitors.
Another local Sunil Nepal demands legal action against those violating the rights to Dalits.
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