http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/content.php?nid=377
Editorial The Marginalized Population [ 2006-8-1 ] By Savitree Thapa Gurung When we talk about population the terms that comes to the mind are fertility, mortality and migration. However we do not talk about the real population, which is people and, their problem. Not only in the Nepal but also in the world, the native part of the population is excluded in the mainstream society. For example, the Raute, Chepang, Hayu, Kasunda, Danuwar, Dhanuk, Gangai (to name a few) in Nepal. At the same time, Dalit and women are also facing extreme exclusion in the state. Exclusion Exclusion refers to a process through which individuals or groups wholly or partially deprived of full participation in the society in which they live. It is also a serious form of exploitation. Only in the Ninth Plan (1997-2002), Dalits and Janajatis had for the first time their separate chapter and the government began to allocate some funds for them. Until lately, the excluded population could not even discuss freely about their deprivation/exclusion and their oppression. It is good now that we can at least talk about exclusion. When we talk about exclusion we also talk abut inclusion. It means which class of the people are in the field of policy level decision making. Which class has got more domination in politics? Which class has the domination in economic sector of the state? So, talking about exclusion is not an awkward articulation, it simultaneously brings awareness to the people's inclusion in every sector. Talking about the causes of exclusion of large masses such as Dalits, indigenous people, and the women, there are many reasons behind it. The history of modern Nepal, which dates back to 237 years, has emphasized on Hindu religion and tradition, which has excluded most of the socio-cultural groups. The other group other than main Hindu high caste elite cannot freely decide their way of life. Another main reason is one language policy focus in government business, which is the main obstacle to other socio-cultural groups to be in the high echelon of the bureaucracy. Second most influencing cause is the constitution of 1990 which has articulated equality between language, sex, ethnicity but many articles of the constitution have failed guarantee that. The provision of citizenship is also the cause of discrimination.. This has excluded many of other group who are not Nepali speaking. The women have been excluded in a number of ways. Not only the country's traditional and cultural and patriarchal values but also the laws devised by the state has discriminated women and other groups. One study has shown that of the various 54 laws, 118 provisions in them have directly discriminated against women. Other various laws though not discriminating women while in practice are found to act against women. Various forms of violence against women exist in Nepal. They are: traditional violence (deuki, jhuma, badi, chhoupadi); violence based on mis-belief (torture given for allegedly practicing witchcraft); sexual violence (women trafficking, forced intercourse, sexual harassment); family violence (domestic violence, polygamy, childhood marriage); dowry related violence (mental and physical torture, driving out of home). However, the violence and exploitation against women vary with religion, caste, and class and upon geographical locations. The question here is what happened from all these exclusionary activities to the society/ what is the outcome. Moreover, the partially invisibility women in politics in Nepal and more so in high-level politics are no exception. The absence o women in decision making bodies, health, and bureaucracy, economic and technical institutions is reflective to this trend. In an age when equal participation of women has been universally acknowledged for the overall human resource development, political equity at par with men becomes imperative. In a traditional society like ours where patriarchy has affected every aspect of the society, a woman's identity is established through the prestige of the husband or father and sometimes with brothers in the society. As she belongs to residual category of the society the frog-leap to be made from being a second-class citizen to that of attaining equal status with men poses several constraints like physiology, culture, role and even male conspiracy. The cultural values and implications emanating from patriarchy have defined specific norms and behavior for both and women. Certain expectations of both sexes also influence the socialization process leading them to exclusion and inclusion. A man is supposed to be outgoing, aggressive, brave, independent, logical and intelligent while the woman is expected to be shy delicate, motherly, fragile, emotional and dependent. Such a programming since birth leads to an endless discrimination that clearly states that politics is a man's world. In many parts of the world, women are facing threats to their lives, health and well-being as a result of being overburdened with work and of their lack of power and influence. Culturally women are traditionally expected mostly to work as housewives even if they get access to education and employment and are viewed as reproductive machines created for the mere satisfaction of men. Main Cause Economically, the lack of provision of credit schemes that operate as revolving fund in generating income is one of the factors that limit the involvement of poor women at least in some petty trading or activities related to self-employment. Gender based exclusions are prevalent in South Asian community. It should be understood that these kinds of exclusionary policy and activities are the main hindrances towards women's empowerment in South Asian community, especially in Nepal. and more so for the cause of an unjust society. * The author is Lecturer of Political Science at Tribhuvan University. «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥««¤»¥«¤»§«¤» This is ZESTCaste whose members watch India's painful journey to society's de-casteisation. Members are encouraged to post messages to [email protected] If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], OR, if you have a Yahoo! 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