The document explores the social health impact of the caste system in Nepal, focusing on the challenges faced by Dalits, who are largely exploited and marginalized. It highlights the persistent existence of caste-based social exclusion affecting access to basic services, health, and economic opportunities despite legal protections. The study reveals low literacy rates, limited economic conditions, and inadequate health awareness among lower caste individuals while suggesting recommendations for governmental intervention and community training to mitigate discrimination.

1. The Social Health Impact of
Caste System in Nepal
- THE CASE OF DALITS
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Presented by,
Singh Rupa
201318009
College of Social and International Studies
http://bossnepal.com/caste-system-in-nepal/

2. Outline of Presentation
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Introduction
 Problems
Goal and Objectives
Research Area
Methodology
Findings and Conclusions
References

3. Introduction: Background 3
Definition of caste system
 Determined by birth
 Combines some or all endogamy, hereditary transmission of occupation, social class
and identity, hierarchy ,exclusion and power.
Caste system in Nepal
 Originated over 2000 years ago.
 It is highly complex and continues the traditional system of social stratification of
Nepal.
 The People accepted it as away of life but some of them are still fighting to end it.
In 1990,the constitution introduced discrimination based on caste as
punishable but these are not very strong and imprecisely implemented.

4. Brahmans
Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras
Dalits (Untouchables)
• Mostly exploited ,oppressed and depressed groups.
• Mostly based on division of labor and occupation.
Rulers, priests, teachers and educated people
Lower rulers and warriors
Farmers, merchants and artisans
Peasants and laborers who work in Non-polluting
jobs.
Degrading Jobs- Unclean occupations.
4CASTE HIERARCHY
Hindu Mythology: god
produced people from 4
separate parts of his body

5. Research Area
• Place – Malangawa, Area- 1,259 square kilometers
• Population – 25,102 (2011) 32478 (2016 estimation).
• Malangawa is chosen because of its high population of the lower caste
and its prevalent socio-economic challenges attributed to social
exclusion on the basis of caste system
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6. Objectives and Research Questions
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Main objective
To establish whether social exclusion has had adverse impact
on the health and economy of the lower caste.
Research Questions
 Does the caste system and untouchability exist in
Malangawa?
 How do low caste people access basic services such as
education and health care?
 Do low caste people have access to non-traditional jobs?

7. Problems faced by
Dalits in Nepal
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 They belong to no caste.
 They are denied entry.
 Inappropriate low traditional
jobs.
 They are engaged in alcohol
abuse and subsequent domestic
violence.
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8. Methodology
 Qualitative Research
- Secondary sources(newspaper, books
journals, articles etc. )
 Quantitative Research
- Primary Data collection.
Data Analysis
The data collected from the survey was entered into an excel spreadsheet and Stata
dataset was created for further statistical analysis.
51%
31%
18%
Proportion of respondents by
ethnicity
Pasman
Chamar
Dom
Fifty one (51) respondents
were interviewed.
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9. Results
6
9
14
6
8 7
0 TO 19 20 TO 29 30 TO 39 40 TO 49 50 TO 59 60 AND
ABOVE
Numberofrespondants
Age group
Proportion of respondents by age group
Freq.
Interviews were conducted with respondents from different
age group ranging from 0 to 80. The number of respondents
from age group 30-39 was the highest
9Results: Age Group

10. Results
6
27
17
18
32
10 1
5 TO 10 11 TO 15 16 TO 20 MORE THAN 20
Frequency
Age group
Reported age of marriage
Boy marriage age Girl marriage age
Literacy rate was very low. Only 3
respondents out of 51 were able to read
and write, which means ninety-four
percent of respondent were illiterate.
Access to school was limited and school
completion rate was very low.
More than 90% of the respondents in the survey said
that boys and girls were married below the legal age.
Marriage whether forced or voluntary was seen as a
necessary venture among girls to provide for their poor
parents.
94%
6%
Proportion of literate and
illiterate respondents
Illiterate
Literate
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11. Results
17%
67%
16%
Number of family members
Up to 5
6 to 9
10 and above
• Joint family structure
• 3 generations together.
21
0 0
4
14
0
0
0
9
1
2
0
PASMAN CHAMAR DOM
Profession of different
ethnicities
Cleaning Labour Weaving Other
• Unclean occupational jobs are still left for the
lower class.
• Traditionally people followed professions
designated by their caste.
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12. Results: Monthly Income
9883.3333
13285.714
2437.5
PASMAN CHAMAR DOM
MeanincomeinNPR
Ethnicity
Mean monthly income by ethnicity
Dom Ethnic group
As compared to the Pasman and Chamar ethnic group, People from the Dom
ethnic group live miserable life with very less income.
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13. 13Results: Health Consciousness
 Only one out of 51 respondents did not get
sick within last 6 months.
 Most common diseases were typhoid,
diarrhea, malaria and TB.
 As presented in the pie chart to the left,
28% of the respondents did not take health
services when they got sick. This is very
high.
28%
31%
39%
2%
Methods of treatment
Did not do
anything
Health Centres
Hospitals
Use home
remedies
 41 out of 51 households did not have toilets.
 Most of those families used open spaces for
defecation.
 Drinking water was available to all using hand
pumps, but no one treated the water before
drinking.
 74% of the respondents did not know about
hygiene or did not follow it properly.
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6
32
FOLLOW
HYGINE
DO NOTHING DON'T KNOW
What people did to avoid
diseases.
On a positive note though, all of the
children were vaccinated.

14. Conclusion
 There is existence of legal protection against the lower caste, but
there is no implementation.
 The lower caste remain unconscious of better health and
sanitation access.
 There is low and steady progress towards inclusiveness -
numerous improvements have been seen in the lower caste
community.
 The lower caste are gradually accessing professional jobs
departing from the traditional low paying jobs.
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15. Recommendations
 Training and awareness program should be held in the community to
make the society free from discrimination.
 The government must introduce pro-poor public policies to reduce the
high levels of poverty among the Dalits. Social cash transfer could be
ideal.
 Providing education and health subsidies.
 Introducing proper health insurance system paid based on the level of
income.
 Proper drainage and sanitation facilities should be provided.
15

16. 16
References:
Ban, B et al (2012). Review of Health and Health Service Improvements in
Nepal, J Nepal Health Res Counc 2012 May 10
Bhattachan, K.B. et al (2003). Existing Practices of Caste-Based
Untouchability in Nepal: and Strategy for a Campaign for its Elimination.
Action Aid Nepal: Kathmandu.
Bhattachan, K.B et al (2009). Caste- based Discrimination in Nepal. New
Delhi: IIDS
Nepal Ministry of Health (2002). New ERA and ORC Macro.
Gupta, D. (2000). Hierarchy and Difference: An Introduction, in Dipankar
Gupta (ed.) Social Stratification. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
http://www.who.int/LinkFiles/Health_Informations_HSC.pdf
http://www.nep.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Health_Information_HSC.pdf
http://bbcnews.com/nepal/countryprofile

17. Thank you for Listening
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