Promoting Human Rights and Social
Inclusion of Terai Dalits in Nepal (SAMANATA)
Location:
Nawalparashi, Rupandehi and Kapilvastu districts
Project Period:
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2009
Major Donors:
Partners:
Dalit NGO Federation (DNF)
Total Budget:
Implemented by
Target Group:
Nine groups from Dalit community in the three target groups.
The project aims to reach about 105,000 people.
Brief Description
of Project:
The
project aims to improve quality of life of 105,000 poor Terail
Dalits in three rural districts of Nepal by 2009 through improvement
in their social status, household income and access to health
services and education for children. Terai Dalits, along with
other Dalit groups, have for centuries been classified by society
in general as the lowest caste in society and ‘impure’
in religious terms, thus making them ‘untouchable’.
The notion of untouchability has affected all aspects of their
lives. Discrimination dictates the Terai Dalits’ livelihood,
where they live, their freedom to use public places, whether the
children can attend school, their access to potable water, whether
and how they can participate in social activities. It takes away
not only their dignity at every step in their life, but also deprives
them of any opportunity to come out of the viscous cycle of poverty
and indebtedness.
The overall thrust
of the project is to promote human rights and the social inclusion
of Terai Dalits. By working jointly with Dalit and pro-Dalit organizations,
media and the government agencies, the project will foster better
understanding of human rights, equality, tolerance and strengthen
mechanism to address the need, concerns and rights of Terai Dalits.
The project will have special focus on empowerment of women who,
in addition to caste based discrimination, also suffer from gender
based discrimination and violence.
