KATHMANDU: Nepal’s new govt said it would issue a "formal state apology" to Dalits and other historically excluded communities within 15 days under prime minister Balendra Shah’s 100-point reform agenda, in what activists described as a historic acknowledgment of generations of caste-based discrimination, exclusion and denial of opportunity. The proposed apology is to be accompanied by measures on social justice, inclusive restoration and historical reconciliation.
The agenda said: “We will formally acknowledge the injustice, discrimination and deprivation of opportunities inflicted on Dalits and historically marginalised communities by the state, society and policy structures, and prepare the basis for social justice, inclusive restoration and historical reconciliation.” It added that a reform-oriented programme would be announced too.
The promise has drawn attention in a country where Dalits make up about 13-14% of the population but continue to face entrenched exclusion despite constitutional guarantees and laws against caste-based discrimination and untouchability. Activists said nearly 42% of Dalits lived below the poverty line, literacy remained below the national average, and representation in key institutions stayed disproportionately low.
For many, the issue remained deeply personal. Saraswati Nepali, president of the Dalit Society Development Forum in Baitadi, recalled that as a child she was not allowed to drink from the same water jar as her classmates and had to walk home for water because she was Dalit. “The state’s official apology will be like a balm for our wounds,” she said. “But for it to heal entirely, govt must effectively ensure all our guaranteed rights. That would give us justice and ensure our dignity.”
Dalit activist Hira Lal Bishwakarma welcomed the announcement, but said its meaning would depend on implementation. “The current decision is honourable, but there is fear that it will only be lip service like in the past,” he said. “After announcing such programmes, policies, budgets, and structures are needed. Without them, it is good to show such announcements externally, but the Dalit community does not get justice.”
Amrita Ban, 23, a Gen Z activist, told TOI the move had raised expectations among young voters. “A state apology to a community that has faced discrimination for generations is historic and a positive beginning. I strongly welcome the decision...I am hopeful it will also bring concrete measures to end discrimination at its roots."
Rakshya Bam, 26, said, "If govt backs this with budgets, enforcement and accountability, it could mark a significant shift in Nepal’s response to caste injustice. Without that, the apology could become a powerful acknowledgment of the past, but fall short of changing the present.”
