KATHMANDU, July 24: Deepa Nepali, a young Dalit woman, completed 96 days of her sit-in protest at Maitighar on Thursday, demanding an end to caste-based discrimination in rental housing. Despite more than three months of continuous protest, she says the government has yet to take meaningful action.
Nepali, who began her protest on April 19, is calling for legal provisions to prevent landlords from asking prospective tenants about their caste before renting out rooms. She alleges that instead of introducing the necessary legal reforms through dialogue, the government has turned a blind eye to the issue.
"The new government does not seem to view caste-based discrimination as a serious issue," she said. "It appears to be trying to ignore it altogether."
According to Nepali, the movement has received support from Dalits, socially conscious non-Dalit youths and other citizens, but the government has failed to respond adequately.
About a month after the protest began, Home Minister Sudan Gurung met the protesters and assured them that caste-based discrimination in room rentals would be addressed. She said the issue was also discussed with lawmaker Khagendra Sunar, but no meaningful negotiations followed.
"When we raised the issue of negotiations, he simply said, 'I can't do it,' and left," she said.
As a Dalit girl is denied a room to rent, an int’l report highl...
Several lawmakers have repeatedly raised the issue in Parliament, but the government has yet to take it seriously, Nepali said. Despite repeated requests to meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, the protesters say they have not been invited for formal talks.
On Wednesday, Minister for Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities, and Social Security Sita Badi and Rastriya Swatantra Party whip Prakash Chandra Pariyar met the protesters. However, Nepali said the meeting fell short of their expectations.
"We had a general discussion with a deputy minister from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Pariyar and Badi. What we need is formal government-level talks and a concrete commitment," she said.
Nepali also accused the government of remaining insensitive to the discrimination faced by Dalits and persons with disabilities.
"There should be government-level negotiations with an official negotiation team. Instead, we have had only superficial discussions," she said.
She expressed appreciation for the solidarity shown by Gen-Z youths, Dalit activists and socially conscious citizens.
"Many non-Dalit youths came to apologize and express solidarity. They acknowledged that the Dalit community continues to face discrimination," she said.
Nepali said she would end her protest only after the government announces a date for formal talks on caste-based discrimination in rental housing.
Protesters at Maitighar have been displaying placards bearing slogans such as, "Is the room vacant, Government?", "My caste is human. Is yours too?" and "Government, do you see caste or people?"
She believes caste-based discrimination in rental housing can be eliminated by amending the Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act to include stronger legal provisions.
Deepa moved to Kathmandu seven years ago to pursue higher education and prepare for a government job. However, after repeatedly facing caste-based discrimination while renting rooms, she decided to launch a campaign for justice.
"Sometimes I was evicted after landlords learned my caste. At other times, I faced physical violence. Now it is time to fight the final battle and end this discrimination once and for all," she said.
She is currently pursuing two legal cases against former landlords. One involves government employee Krisha Bidari and his wife, from whom she rented a room in 2076 BS. The other is against Prabin Maharjan and Anjali Maharjan of Kirtipur, who allegedly evicted her about six months ago after learning her caste through social media.
Nepali, who comes from a poor Dalit family, said she completed her LLB despite financial hardship. She added that her aspirations have changed as a result of the discrimination she has endured while renting rooms in Kathmandu.
