FEDO Urges Government to Prioritize Dalit Women and Marginalized Children in 2082/83 Budget

Kathmandu. The Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) has demanded that the government incorporate the issues of Dalit women and marginalized children into the budget, policies, and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83.

The organization met with Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Sita Badi, on Monday to urge that the social, economic, and rights-related concerns of Dalit women be prioritized during the budget formulation process.

FEDO General Secretary Renu Sijapati stated that they have demanded the provision of long-term vocational training and grants aimed at making Dalit women entrepreneurs, as well as ensuring the mandatory participation of Dalit women and adolescent girls in all programs operated under the ministry.

Furthermore, the organization has requested the provision of safe housing and employment-oriented training for women who have experienced violence or returned from foreign employment. FEDO also emphasized the need to conduct awareness campaigns against harmful practices such as child marriage, untouchability, and rape.

“In addition, we have placed demands for the formation of networks for Dalit and marginalized children at the provincial level, facilitation of citizenship distribution, study and monitoring of services and facilities, and the collection of data on Dalit women,” said General Secretary Sijapati. “Through Minister Badi, we have urged the government to ensure gender and social inclusion by making the participation of Dalit women mandatory in policies, budgets, and programs.”