Plight of Dalits- Free Online Sessions

The caste system remains embedded in many people’s belief and culture and is the oldest form of social stratification. It is estimated, that world-wide some 300 million people suffer from discrimination based on caste. This includes many people in the UK. The Christian Network Against Caste Discrimination view caste (which can often interlink with colourism) as one of the root causes of poverty around the world.

Nalini Nathan

For decades, NGOs and governments in the West have been involved in providing aid to address global poverty . Too often, these efforts have not considered that the poverty of much of the global poor is caused by caste-based discrimination. For example, it is estimated that each day, three Dalit women are raped, two Dalits are murdered, eleven are beaten, and two Dalit houses are set on fire. While agencies have not been scared to address cultural norms such as child marriage, women’s rights and FGM, when the issue of caste is raised, there can sometimes be a lack of awareness and understanding.

The CNACD’s (Christian Network Against Caste Discrimination) vision is to conscientize, sensitise, and motivate the Western public, the agents of development and human rights and other key groups, on the reality of extreme poverty, discrimination and all forms of human rights violations and abuses faced by Dalits on a daily basis. As part of its work, the CNACD will be hosting a series of online sessions this winter, to raise awareness about the plight of Dalits. The four sessions will be held on the first Saturday of each month from 2pm-3pm (GMT). The first session is on Saturday 3rd December at 2pm and will focus on the situation for Dalits living in the UK.

CNACD works to support, enable and create a movement made up of effective networks and support groups, and to secure permanent and lasting equality for the Dalits at home and in areas of the world where caste discrimination continues. We seek to source areas of opportunity where Dalits can use their voice to effect change, through education, political pressure and economic development.

Courtesy : ICN

Note: This news piece was originally published in independentcatholicnews.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights .