Kathmandu — The Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has pledged to provide concessional bank loans of up to Rs 1.5 million without collateral to couples entering into inter-caste marriages, according to its election manifesto released on Tuesday for the upcoming House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21.
The commitment is included in the party’s manifesto under provisions related to the protection of Dalit community rights and the implementation of constitutionally guaranteed safeguards.
The manifesto states that inter-caste couples will be eligible to receive bank loans at subsidized interest rates, without the requirement of collateral, with a maximum limit of Rs 1.5 million. The party says the measure is aimed at promoting self-reliance among such couples.
Education and Skill Development Commitments
The NCP has also committed to formulating and implementing a dedicated action plan to safeguard the rights of the Dalit community.
In the education sector, the party has pledged to ensure compulsory and free education from basic to secondary level for the Dalit community. It has further committed to providing scholarships in technical and vocational education.
The manifesto also includes a proposal to modernize and industrialize traditional skills, arts, and labor practices associated with the Dalit community. It states that a university focused on indigenous skills and craftsmanship will be established.
Institutional and Policy Measures for Dalit Empowerment
The party has pledged to end landlessness and housing insecurity within the Dalit community and to form an Integrated Dalit Development Authority to support overall development initiatives.
Additionally, the NCP has committed to launching a national campaign against caste-based discrimination and untouchability involving federal, provincial, and local governments.
The manifesto also proposes declaring the next decade as the “Dalit Rights Decade” to ensure dignity and prosperity for the Dalit community. It further states that special programs will be implemented for Dalit women, Madhesi Dalits, and communities such as the Badi and Gandharva who face multiple layers of discrimination.
