Nepal, March 30 -- On March 27, the very first Cabinet meeting of the newly elected Balen government announced a series of reform measures to improve governance, including a plan to offer a state apology to Dalits and other marginalised groups. This was also part of the election manifesto of the ruling party, Rastriya Swatantra Party. Many Dalits seem elated by this announcement.

No doubt, this move, similar to the apology issued by some Western governments to the indigenous peoples they've destroyed and displaced, has a symbolic value. It indicates that the state has finally recognised its mistakes and seeks to redress them. But is this government likely to hit the rigid caste structure and ensure liberty to more than 13 percent of the ...