Rajesh Hamal is returning to the small screen to host a weekly talk show, “Jaat ko Prashna”, which will debut on August 1 on Kantipur Television. The 12-episode talk show series, produced in cooperation with Samata Foundation, an NGO that works for the rights of marginalised communities, aims to unpack the topics related to centuries-long discrimination against Dalits and other ethnic minorities in the country.

The 25 minutes long episode will be aired every Saturday at 6:30 pm and will be re-telecast at 10 pm where Hamal will be interacting and discussing with a line-up of all kinds of guests, from lawmakers and police authorities to the people who have personally faced caste-based discrimination, Dinesh DC, station head of Kantipur TV, told a press meet on Thursday.

For decades, Nepal has struggled to abolish caste-based discrimination and untouchability. When the Civil Act 1963 was introduced, its biggest focus was to make caste-based discrimination a punishable offence. The Untouchability and Discrimination Act, promulgated in 2011, and the Constitution of Nepal both provide clear protections for Dalits, who make up 13.12 percent of the country’s population.

Despite the legal provisions that criminalise caste-based discrimination, acts of violence against Dalits have continued across the country.

“We as members of the society should be vocal about the injustice that have been committed towards the Dalit community,” said Hamal.

Pradeep Pariyar, the chairman of Samata Foundation, also stated that the need for the TV programme that deals with the caste-based discrimination was felt after the two cases of violence against Dalits during the lockdown sparked a conversation around caste-based atrocities in the country.

“The killings of six men in Rukum and Angira Pasi in Rupendehi are gruesome testaments that intolerance towards the Dalit community’s existence can even lead to loss of lives. It is high time that such violence acts should be stopped and for this, there should be wholesome discussion regarding Dalit’s rights that should be able to reach out to mass audience,” said Pariyar.

“Jaat ko Prashna” is directed by Santa Nepali and is produced by Bibek Regmi.