Dalit organization urges US, India to work together to erase caste–based atrocities

Washington, D.C., USA – The Dalit Freedom Network (DFN), a Denver–based organization that seeks to work with individuals, foundations and organizations outside of India to bring together their combined resources on behalf of those who are working for the emancipation of the Dalits within India, held a historic conference on October 6, urging the US government to assist India in eradicating caste–based atrocities.

The historic conference entitled, "Racism and Caste Based Discrimination in India: Implications for the US–India Relationship" was followed by a House Hearing on ongoing Caste atrocities. The event marked a new awareness among U.S. lawmakers about the struggles of lower caste people in India.

"The growth of the Indian economy has not affected the 250 million Untouchables (called Dalits) who are denied economic opportunity, education, and equal treatment under the law," said Joseph D'Souza, international president, Dalit Freedom Network. "It is time for the United States to work with the government of India to end caste and stop atrocities against low caste Indians."

The conference and the hearing addressed the problems of caste in India.

Noted Dalit activists including Dr. Joseph D'Souza, international president, Dalit Freedom Network and president, All India Christian Council, Dr. Udit Raj, chairman of the All–India Confederation of Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe Organizations and Prof. (Dr.) Kancha Ilaiah, Head of the Political Science Department at Osmania University in Hyderabad addressed the conference, explaining about the caste–based discrimination that is prevailing in India and the adverse socio–economic and political repercussions it would have in the Indo–US relationship.

Caste, a social stratification rooted deep in Hinduism, organizes people by a combination of descent and employment. The lowest group in the caste system is the Dalits. While atrocities against the Dalits have been practiced for thousands of years, caste–based atrocities are reaching new heights and are causing tension across many areas.