News&Information

DALIT DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNTIONAL ADVOCACY

Summary report of a 2 day workshop for Dalit leaders and activists organized by International Dalit Social Action Forum ( IDSAF) in association with Bombay Urban Industrial League for Development ( BUILD) & National Council of Churches in India ( NCCI) on June 12-13, 2004 in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India.

Around 40 Dalit activists, intellectuals, and leaders from the Dalit grass root and networks from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh from the following organizations and networks participated in the two-day workshop.

INSAF (Indian National Social Action Forum), NCCI ( National Council of Churches in India- Nagpur), HRFDL( Human Rights Forum for Dalit Liberation- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka), Center for Study of Society and Secularism- Mumbai, College of Social work, Ambedkar Youth Association- Nagpur, Hanuman Seva Sangh, Dawn Trust-Kerala, Network for Dalit Liberation- Chennai, Maharashtra Dalit Panthers, Bahujan Samaj Party ( Mumbai Unit), Campaign & Advocacy for Human Rights ( CAHR), Bombay Urban Industrial League for Development ( BUILD), Naka Majudur Sanghatna ( CITU-Mumbai) with the solidarity from the  Kerala Dalit Panthers and , Dalit Voluntary Associations Federation ( DVAF)- Andhra Pradesh who could not participate.

The Particular Context:

Mr.Maria Doss, Convener , IDSAF explained the purpose of the workshop as to ascertain the various response to the plight of the Dalits both nationally and internationally. He shared his experience in London as a student of Voice of the Dalit International and the need for our Dalit support and action internationally if at all we make some interventions relevantly to our issues. He gave credit to VODI for starting such an unique course which gave opportunity to many Dalit activists to do many campaigns for our cause internationally. However he felt that there is and was a need for our Dalit voice by the Dalits and for Dalit development and rights at the intentional level. So few Dalit students after this course as well as from other institutes initiated International Dalit Social Action Forum (IDSAF) under which banner they try to make our Dalit voice heard internationally. Hence, to seek the advice and guidance from the local Dalit leaders and groups this workshop was organized. He thanked for the support and solidarity given by the sponsors and organizers BUILD and NCCI. He also shared the many campaigns and advocacy programs organized by other Dalit networks like DSN, VODI and Caste Watch UK at the international level and IDSAF’s collaboration with them.

Elaborating the prevalence of caste system Secretary of BUILD Rev. George Daniel stated that Dalit issue was oppression and poverty linked and majority of the population of the country was facing such problems. He further stated that they would have to develop deep and assess why Dalit issues were not getting due prominence and even
NGOs working for this issue did not make effective dent and how funds collected in the name of Dalits did not reach to its real beneficiary.

Rev. Y. Moses from National Council of Churches, Nagpur stated that they had been involved with the issues related to Dalit and try to make the Churches sensitive to the Dalit issues as more than 80% Christians are Dalits. He declared that it was heartening to see that Church Leaders in 2002 recognized that basic fact. He further stated that they played conspicuous role during Durban conference on racial discrimination did stiff campaign on caste-based discrimination and brought adequate visibility in those international fora. He said that they organized an international conference in Colombo in last February with the cooperation of World Council of Churches (WCC) and Lutheran World Service and discussed the Dalit Problems in a threadbare manner.

Speaking on Development and Dalits? Dr. Jalinder Adsule stated that decision making and implementation reign remained in the hands of upper caste and class people. There was need to capture the domain of decision-making and implementation bodies by the Dalits and other oppressed sections of the society. He said that they had to find out why Dalit movements did make any tangible intervention recently. He said that it might be due to lack of exclusion of other Dalit castes and sub castes and also movements remained stagnant in the hands of Mahar caste. He also suggested that there was strong need to bring all sub-caste of Dalit into the mainstream of activism then they could generate a sort of revival in the Dalit movement. That was why Dalits bargaining
capacity for their betterment were fast dissipating. Dalits had lost its panache as political assertive groups, he asserted. Both political parties and NGOs were responsible for such degeneration. The Dalit leaders were portrayed as corrupt and lunatic. And for portrayal of such negative aspect media had played substantial role in legitimizing discrimination to some extent.

In the first day a film was shown on the impact of globalization on Dalit Communities in the Tamil Nadu. It proved beyond doubt that globalization brought in its wake deprivation and destruction for the marginalized sections of the society, drastically curtailed their source of income and contaminate their salubrious environment and gave fillip to nagging exploitation. 

The second day programme started with awareness songs depicted how marginalized sections did everything for the betterment of the society and they were in turn always ill-treated and exploited.

Mr. Maria Doss opined that they could achieve Dalits aspirations and rights through grassroots efforts and effective lobbying internationally.

The participants discussed the various aspects of our problems as Dalits and find suggestions for effective and relevant interventions from us.

The reality of Dalit situation

·         Today Dalit movements or networks are at crossroads.

·         On the question of why Dalits movements have failed, the members felt it is due to the fact that Dalit agenda and the vision of Dr.Ambedkar is missing in our movements.

·         There are very few committed leadership both at the national and the international scenario.

·         There is no opportunity for emerging Dalit leaders to build their skill sand capacities

·         Failure on the part of the NGOs in promoting Dalit leadership. The reality is that almost all the developmental organizations or the NGOs are headed by the non Dalits some of them may be sensitive to the Dalit cause but for most the Dalits or our Dalit grass root organizations are just objects or reference groups for their proposals and projects. So even if any Dalit is well qualified in the field he or she is kept only as paid worker to do things for survival.

·         There is no real Dalit network that represents our aspirations. The existing networks do not really do the right thing needed for our liberation.

·         While most of the Dalit organizations at the grass root have no resources or support. Others who often treat Dalit issue as one of the many issues only network them.

·         Media is totally biased towards Dalits

·         Political parties keep the Dalit movements divided for vested interests.

·         Lack of effective international solidarity and support.. at present we have mostly researchers and speakers on Dalit issues not campaigns for our rights and development.

·         While more than 80% of the poor in India are Dalits and Dalits are the majority of the most exploited vulnerable groups whether bonded laborers or commercial sex workers etc, the importance given to the eradication of caste related poverty and exploitation is very insignificant. It is also mainly for the reasons that there is not much awareness on our issues to the international community, developmental and human rights groups. They are not sensitized enough to our mental stigma as untouchables

Prof. Ramesh Kamble stressed on the need to start grassroots movements whereby those marginalized Dalits could come together and fight for our emancipation. For that socio-economic movement was necessary. He felt that fighting spirit among Dalits was lacking. He suggested enhancing of political movement through inculcating education and awareness. He said that movement should be based on firm resolve like? Say no to oppression? and create a congenial atmosphere whereby they could take informed decision and could not be hoodwinked neither by their community leaders nor by the upper class and caste people.

Prof. Ramesh Kamble and Mr.Ramesh Nathan analyzed the group presentations.

- - It was also felt that members of the weaker sections of the society should be trained and capacitate so that they could face adverse situations with aplomb.

- There was also need to give statutory power to vital institutions like National Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribes Commission and National Human Rights Commission whereby their recommendation could be binding and proved effective.

-One pertinent point emerged from discussion that radical and enthusiastic Dalit leaders were co-opted by the NGOs and other voluntary organizations and their zeal to serve their commentary was nullified by using them as paid workers. There was strong need to insulate such leaders from being co-opted and give space to their cherished endeavor.

-The most important point emerged during discussion was about how to raise necessary resources.

Macro level- (the role of IDSAF)

·         To make effective lobbying with international groups, with Unions, with M.Ps and with Legislatures so that they help us in the affirmative action towards Dalit Development and protection of their rights thereby Internationalizing Dalit issue and build solidarity with various international civil society, human rights and developmental organizations international networks

·         Advocating, assisting, monitoring developmental agencies in their policies and programs to be able to raise the resources to the right groups and grass root activists

·         Creating opportunity for the Dalit leaders and activists for international exposures and training and capacity building programs

·         Organizing campaigns at the international stage along with the other like minded and concerned groups for Dalit rights and development

·         Assisting in creation of resources and materials for the Dalit cause and promotion of research on Dalit issues and  on Dr.Ambedkar

·         To study and follow Dr.Ambedkar  and his teachings and The need for establishing research institution whereby Dalits cause could be represented appropriately and effective lobbying for Dalits causes could be made possible.

·         Creating and in helping international networks for Dalit cause and initiate mutual exchange visits and exposure for sharing of information and strategies.
 

Micro Level

·         We should bridge the gap between Dalits intellectuals and grassroots workers.

·         To monitor violations of our rights and disseminate the information

·         To strive for the implementing of laws that protects and promotes Dalit rights and development with diligent sincerity.

·         To affect policy decisions in our favor

·         To generate necessary resources both locally and internationally

·         Creating and building up of existing networks for our cause

·         Dalits to be at all levels of decision making of NGOs and other human rights forums and organizations. It is time that we speak ourselves and not allow others to use as reference groups for their ulterior motives.

·         Creating awareness to our Dalit youth in the villages and  building their capacities

·         Building cadre based movements and reviving networks like Dalit Panthers in Maharashtra and linking the other similar networks everywhere.

·         Establishing a support system for the grass root Dalit activists and programs

The workshop concluded with some concrete proposals for our liberation and development. All the groups will work as one forum and assist IDSAF in its international efforts by sharing information and resources.

State level follow up meetings will be conducted before October as to nominate executive members. The participants after discussions endorsed the role and functions of IDSAF as follows:

·         To educate, train, empower and build the capacity of Dalit leaders and activists to be agents of our rights and development through national and international training and studies.

·         To assist as well as to monitor international developmental aids and influencing the policies for Dalit rights and development

·         To make aware the international community the violations of the rights of the 260 million Dalits for centuries and thereby internationalizing the issue by awareness and campaigns especially To the communities in UK and Europe and to human rights groups/ funding partners/ churches / government/ political leaders/ labor unions etc

• To support, assist, strengthen and expand international collective responsibility in eradicating caste discriminations and related poverty in all its forms.
• To initiate exchange-exposure programs for Dalits, campaign-communication on the plight of the Dalits
• To promote and propagate the teaching and vision of Dr.Ambedkar for Dalit liberation and development

For the time being the central coordination of this network will be from Maharashtra. IDSAF will also directly be in communication with the various groups.

                                                                           Dr.B.R.Ambedkar.

My final words of advice to you are - Educate, Agitate, Organize – have faith in yourself. With justice on our side, I do not see how we can lose our battle. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the

fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of the human personality.

Press Release of Joint Committee

Response of Joint Committee to the report of Hindu Council UK

“The Caste System”  

A joint meeting of representatives of different Communities of Shri Guru Valmiki, Ravidass, Ambedkarites and Buddhists and Indian Christians came out with a statement in response to the HCUK’s report on Caste Discrimination.

The forthcoming Single Equality Bill in the UK Parliament and the proposed in it  has triggered an unprecedented alarm among the Hindu fundamentalists. To stall the work of  the British MPs in this great human right issue, the HCUK have waged shameless onslaught on them and levelled baseless allegations of converting the affected community to Christianity. HCUK in their report have also accused good working organisations such as Dalit Solidarity Network UK and CasteWatchUK for their committed and ceaseless effort to fight caste discrimination in the UK. These organisations are pioneering the vision of the Dr.B. R. Ambedkar, the Architect of the Indian Constitution. 

The Joint Committee of different UK based communities, including the Shri Guru Valmiki community condemn the misleading Report of HCUK to market their fabricated and primitive ideas with a malicious intension to mislead the UK general public and the M.P.  All the arguments raised by HCUK Report had been already countered successfully by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in his various volumes of writings and Speeches.

The Joint Committee has also condemned the sinister move of including an alleged statement of Valmiki Sabha Southall which is effectively meant to support HCUK’s views. Shri Guru Valmiki Sabha, Southall is not the sole representative of the Valmiki community in the UK. By doing so, HCUK has exposed its policy of ‘divide and rule’.

The Joint Committee condemn the heinous caste practices of the Hindu society which deny over 300 million Indians from enjoying basic human rights. Caste is also the root cause of one third of the global poor. HCUK report misrepresenting the facts and hold British Rule and various foreign rules in India responsible for the caste system, forgetting that the basic scriptures of the Hindu religion such as Rigveda, Gita & Manusmriti enforce and predate all foreign rules.

The 30 page document of the HCUK intented to prevent  Caste Discrimination in the Single Equality Bill. This shows that HCUK has no respect to Human Rights values and principles. The caste minded Hindus dominants have always portrayed that caste is the ‘internal’ and ‘cultural’ aspects of the Hindu society and thus always try to evade scrutiny.

The joint Committee highlighted the remark of  the Indian Prime Minister’s drawing parallalls between  untouchability (which arise out of caste discrimination) and apartheid…‘It is a blot on humanity.”  The Joint Committee also asked HCUK to be aware of the fact that the Law of Great Britain is supersedes any other laws, including religious laws in this Country. The Committee found that  it is shameful for HCUK to prevert the process of the legislation when the affected communities tirelessly work hard for such inclusion.

the Great Britian has a long cherished history of promotion and protection of Human Rights including the abolition of Slave trade. The Joint Committee call on the UK Government to recognise the plight of the caste discriminated communities and  legislation to recognise that Caste Discrimination is a criminal offence and is a violation Human Rights. We also request the UK Government to implement the United Nation’s CERD General Recommendation XXIX for the effective prohibition and elimination of Caste Discrimination and increase public awareness and education campaign against such evil practices.