Sarita Pariyar: Rebuffs General Assembly Decision, Defames Board Members?

Samata Foundation, established to conduct research and policy advocacy for Dalit and marginalized communities, is embroiled in an ugly dispute due to a board member contesting the Foundation’s general assembly and its decision. Most board members have expressed serious concern about her irresponsible acts and false accusations that they believe have smudged the Foundation’s credibility and image.

The board member, Sarita Pariyar, failed to gain a majority vote. The other board members alleged that she indulged in acts damaging the organization’s reputation. During a conversation with Pardafas, some board members and officials of Samata Foundation claimed that Pariyar is contesting in court with false, baseless, and misleading accusations against the Foundation’s steering committee. According to them, Pariyar remains a minority in the general assembly and Samata Foundation Board of Directors.

The members claim that the management has repeatedly requested clarification from Sarita Pariyar to show cause for colluding in activities against the organization. Instead of responding to questions aptly asked by the organization, they accuse Pariyar of filing a case in the High Court with illicit and iniquitous demands to nullify the Foundations’ legit general meeting.

The members in the majority claim that Sarita Pariyar acquired membership of the board illegally. The Foundation’s Memorandum of Association (MoA) requires an individual to subscribe as a general member before joining the Board of Directors. But the members claim that she became a board member without receiving a general membership of the organization. According to the MoA, it is an unlawful association. Nonetheless, the High Court’s verdict on 25 May 2023 clearly states no need for an interim order.

The members accuse Sarita Pariyar of appearing as a no-show in the general assembly called by the Foundation that complied with the legal procedure required by the Constitution of Nepal and its MoA. Instead, Pariyar is in pandemonium and exhibited audacity not to comply with the general assembly decisions.

“She (Sarita Pariyar) claimed Samata Foundations’ chairperson. The Board of Directors could not agree to her demand. They argued she is going abroad on a Fullbright Scholarship and the appointment would overburden her with responsibilities,” legal advisor of the Foundation advocate Prakash Nepali told Pardafas, “After failing to land the position of chairperson and not being able to appoint Ashok Gurung as the Chief Executive Officer, they initiated media stunts, feeding propaganda and filing court cases.”

According to advocate Nepali, Sarita Pariyar and her cabal also demanded to run the Just Future Initiative (JFI) autonomously – a grant received by Samata Foundation to work with and for Madheshi Dalit women. Nepali said, “Rather than Madheshi Dalit women’s benefit, JFI became a means for Pariyar’s personal gain.” He assured the organization followed the MoA protocol under prevailing laws and invited all the board and general members to the general assembly. However, three members, including Sarita Pariyar, did not show up and rejected the decisions made by the majority of members present in the assembly.

Nepali revealed that Sarita Pariyar and others threatened Padam Sundas, founder chairperson of Samata Foundation and former ambassador of Nepal to the kingdom of Bahrain. He said, “In a restaurant, Sarita Pariyar blatantly demanded the position of chairperson or else she goes against the organization.”

According to Nepali, when Sundas said he could do nothing to appoint her as the chairperson, Pariyar and others threatened him and sent warnings.

Two of the eight board members – Sarita Pariyar and Dr. Sumitra Manandhar Gurung- were absent from the general assembly. Nepali said both appealed to the court to cancel the same assembly and its decisions.

Founder chairperson Sundas corroborated Nepal’s statement and said Sarita Pariyar threatened him before the organization sent invitations to the general assembly.

Sundas told Pardafas that Sarita Pariyar warned, “If you don’t appoint me as the chairperson, I can do anything. I’ll shred the organization to pieces.”

“In threatening language,” Sundas said, “Sarita warned me that if I failed to appoint her as the chairperson, she would shut down the organization. I tried calming her down, explaining that the organization operates through rules, regulations, and processes. It follows procedures and its MoA. Therefore, we must advance accordingly. Sadly, she’s busy defaming the organization. I tried my best to talk sense into her that individual aspirations do not work with organizations, but her ego did not deter an inch.”

He further adds, “Not only that. Ashok Gurung, not affiliated with Samata Foundation, approached and threatened me that they would destroy the organization if we did not appoint Sarita Pariyar as chairperson. The same horde is now actively leading defamatory actions against the Foundation and its officials. However, in reality, they are desecrating the achievement of more than 70 glorious years of the Dalit movement. I urge the civic society, leaders, and activists to be vigilant of the risks they bring to our movement.”

A year ago, Sarita Pariyar visited Delhi and Agra in India with Ashok Gurung and others on a pretense of a program. Gurung has no association with Samata Foundation whatsoever. But the trip expenses remain unsettled to date, according to the organization. They claim that Pariyar could not provide plausible reasoning for the management’s repeated requests to clarify the visit-related expenses.

Sarita Pariyar denies all the accusations and said that she raised concerns about the internal governance of the Foundation and went to the High Court to seek a solution.

Darnal Award – illegally operated?

According to a source, Sarita Pariyar illegally operates the Darnal Award and Sarita Pariyar Trust Fund. The source alleged, “She is raising funds from foreigners through these two organizations, which are not registered in Nepal. Darnal Award, which provides a prize equal to 5 lakh rupees every two years, is now closed without any information. However, there is no evidence of paying tax for the award. Hence, it is doubtful that the accounting of these two organizations is transparent and lawful.”

Sarita Pariyar, who never gets tired of preaching social justice and gender equality, has appointed #metoo accused Dr. Krishna Bhattachan. Despite recurring questions in the social sphere and social media, the source said, Pariyar’s silence represents the height of duality.

“With such a nefarious character who takes refuge in gender equality for personal gains, it is easy to understand Sarita Pariyar’s vested interest and lewd intentions in women’s rights, gender equality, and social justice movements.”

But Pariyar clarifies that the case has no connection with Darnal Award. She said, “The dispute in Samata Foundation has no connection with the Darnal Award.” She refused to respond to further questions.

“We have gone to the court. I don’t want to talk more on this,” Pariyar told Pardafas.

Owns millions, snatches Dalit women’s scholarship

Sarita Pariyar owns millions of rupees worth of assets. Yet, she has encroached on the Fulbright scholarship provided by the American government for Dalit women.

“Sarita Pariyar occupying the American government-provided scholarship for indigent Dalit women is the worst example of the ultimate abuse of social justice,” a Dalit activist said, “People with access and privilege like Sarita Pariyar snatching the opportunity provided by the American government raises questions to the rationale of the scholarship. It would be just if an indigent Dalit woman could secure the opportunity.”