The incident involving journalist Rupa Sunar being denied a rental room solely because she is Dalit is still fresh in people’s minds. Even today, Dalit communities face discrimination for touching water, entering into inter-caste marriages, or are subjected to violence — including murder — on accusations of witchcraft. The social hierarchy that labels castes as “higher” or “lower” has yet to be eradicated.

It has been 56 years since the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21, observed this year on Chaitra 7) was first commemorated, yet caste-based discrimination still exists in Nepal.

Although there are legal and policy measures in place in Nepal to reduce such discrimination, and efforts are being made toward its elimination, experts in the field say there has been significant progress compared to the past.