The Constitution of Nepal deserves recognition for its role in dismantling the age-old chains of caste-based hierarchy, which historically concentrated power within specific groups. In a landmark move, the government led by Balen Shah has appointed a representative from the Badi community to the cabinet for the very first time. At 30 years old, Sita Badi of Karnali Province has been selected as the Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens.
The Badi community of Nepal is one of the most ‘double-marginalized’ Dalit groups in society. Often described as the ‘untouchables among the untouchables’, they have long occupied the lowest rung of Nepal’s socio-economic ladder. Historically known as nomadic entertainers, the community has faced systemic landlessness and extreme poverty, with many families still living in temporary settlements on riverbanks.
According to Badi elders, the community is naturally gifted in art and music. History reveals that they were once assigned to entertain the royalty and feudal lords of the era. Their role was comparable to that of modern-day actors and artists who perform for the public. During that period, their earnings and living standards were relatively high compared to others, as they received rewards from feudal patrons based on their performances. In fact, the Badi were once close to the aristocratic circles. However, as social structures shifted, they were gradually sidelined and forced into the extreme margins of society.
The bitter truth remains that the Badi are the most deprived and oppressed group within Nepali society. Data and research support this; even when compared to Hill Dalits and Madhesi Dalits, the Badi remain the most excluded group from every societal perspective. Therefore, it is imperative that the state addresses their issues with urgency. The Badi community should be provided with dedicated reservations in key sectors. While upholding these progressive principles, the state must also counter the rhetoric of anti-reservation groups.
In contemporary Nepal, there is frequent discussion regarding meritocracy and equality. While these concepts sound justifiable to those who have enjoyed ‘structural dividends’ for generations due to their caste, gender, or religion, they ignore the reality of the ‘caste syndicate’. For instance, the traditional Hindu Varna system pre-assigned jobs based on birth—a form of reservation that anti-inclusion groups often ignore. Furthermore, Dalits are not the only ones who benefit from reservation policies; other groups receive significant portions of these quotas. Yet, critics often target the tiny fraction of support allocated to the most oppressed. When one compares the current reservation facilities to the centuries of social, economic, and political trauma Dalits have endured, the current support is negligible. The state must refine these policies, as the current provisions remain insufficient for communities like the Badi.
In a society shaped by caste-based stereotypes, the Constitution of Nepal provides a vital mechanism to break the monopoly of the high-caste syndicate. The principles of proportional representation and inclusion are finally paving the way for the reformation and transformation of oppressed groups. This framework is successfully fulfilling its motive: providing opportunity to those in the margins and bringing them into the mainstream of the state.
Badi’s entry into the cabinet is the embodiment of what the Constitution and progressive thought aimed to achieve. Today, a representative from the most marginalized community has successfully claimed space in the federal cabinet. Before the promulgation of the Constitution in 2015, it was almost unimaginable for a common person to see a member of the Badi community in such a high office. Fortunately, the Constituent Assembly established inclusive norms to uplift the marginalized, resulting in this historic moment for Sita Badi and her people. The true beauty of proportional representation lies in its ability to grant power to those who need it most.
The appointment of Badi is a symbolic and historic milestone for a community that has faced systemic neglect and social humiliation. In her role as Minister, society hopes to see a future where children from every community no longer suffer from exclusion and poverty. Moving forward, the state must meticulously implement reservation and inclusion policies. These constitutional provisions should not exist merely as words on paper; the public demands proper, practical action and implementation. The state must continue to give the highest priority to those at the margins of society. Indeed, ensuring their presence in the halls of power is the crowning achievement of proportional representation, turning a constitutional vision into a lived reality.
