JUMLA, Dec 27: An incident of practice of 'untouchability' within the dalit community itself has come to light at Haku VDC in the district.
A dalit person here with the surname Pariyar is facing caste discrimination at the hands of other dalits from the same community.
The victim is 41-year-old Ramlal Pariyar from Haku VDC-8 in the district. The Pariyar family is facing discrimination from the people belonging to the Sarki community in the village.
Pariyar said he and the members of his family are not allowed in marriage ceremonies, community feasts and other public functions held by the community. "We are like socially boycotted by the Sarki community although we live in the same village," said Pariyar at a public hearing program recently.
"A dalit leader from the village, who organized awareness programs in the village to end caste-based discrimination and the practice of untouchability, himself mistreated me on the charge of attending and 'polluting' the wedding feast of his son," Pariyar lamented.
He said he lodged a complaint against that leader at the Dalit Sewa Sangh, an organization working for the protection of the rights of the dalits and ending caste-based discrimination, and the District Police Office. But his complaint fell on deaf ears and he continues to face caste-based discrimination.
Pariyar now plans to knock the doors of the National Human Rights Commission, the court and the district administration office for the protection of his human rights and for justice.
Pariyar's is the only family living among the 34 Sarki families in the village. RSS
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