Steps

Following introductions, participants began by listing the castes within the community, with each caste listed on a separate idea card.

Acknowledging that each caste has different values, beliefs and practices, the team then asks participants to arrange the castes by social status, giving the group time and space to discuss how they view castes should be ordered.

Once ordered, facilitators review aloud the list of castes in order, making space for corrections. The cards are then placed from top to bottom in order on the ground.

As participants discuss caste order and give reasons for status, one researcher on the team notes the rationale and arguments given.

After the order is agreed upon, participants discuss why each caste has been placed in a specific position. For each caste listed, the research team facilitates discussions on social, political, cultural, traditional, religious, economic or other reasons to explain the position of each caste in a specific position.

Each idea is written on a card and placed next to the appropriate caste. Throughout the process, one facilitator notes the debates, side conversations and areas of disagreement, body language and other observations among participants.

Once each caste is discussed, the research team facilitates a discussion on the caste system. In Nepal, the team asked;

• Is it justifiable to classify the people at different levels according to the castes, to discriminate against, divide them into lower and upper castes and practice untouchability?
• Should this practice be maintained as it is or it needs to be changed?
• How do these practices relate to development?
• What is our role in maintaining or changing these practices? What should our role be?