Even after seven decades of independence, Dalits in India are still facing social problems owing to the stigma of untouchable low caste despite the constitutional provisions against caste-based discrimination. The continued presence of deep-rooted caste-based inequity in the distribution and availability of infrastructure for  Dalits is seen. It is practiced through fencing off Dalits from accessing functional infrastructure facilities that are situated in the dominant caste habitations and limiting their participation in the governance systems.

The major motive of the Dalit struggle is directed towards gaining caste-based equality and sociopolitical empowerment. Dalits have heightened their social and political consciousness, which has given them courage not to be submissive to the high caste. Effective participation of Dalits in institutions of governance is the only assured way of empowering them.  There is an urgent need for planning and implementation of Dalit empowerment keeping in view that their dignity and rights are instilled.

As a responsible social development arm of CBCI, Caritas India has developed special concern towards addressing the dehumanization process.

As part of its Cluster Programme Development initiative,  Caritas India organized a Writeshop on the 14^th and 15^th of February, 2019 at Chennai.  It was facilitated by Dr.John Arokiaraj, Thematic Manager-Dalit Rights and Development, Caritas India who is also spearheading the development work in the State of Tamil Nadu. The Diocesan Social Service Societies of Northern Tamil Nadu Cluster namely  Madras, Chengalpattu, Vellore, Pondicherry, Dharmapuri, Salem and Kumbakonam represented by the Directors and Programme Managers participated. The presence of TASOSS Assistant Director Fr.Arockiasamay along with the point person Mr.Chellapandi ensured the accompaniment of regional forum. In total there were 18 participants.

In his opening remarks, Dr.John Arokiaraj said that marginalization denies basic human rights and social justice. He continued saying “ Dalit issue is a collective obligation to set aright the corroded system and let us change the most wrongly interpreted construct”.

The overall theme around which the programme planned is Dalit Development and the key stakeholders are predominantly Dalit communities.  The collective thinking focused on developing  a long term strategic framework and action plan for cooperation among  Church stakeholders  through capacity building, institutional strengthening and coordinated commitments for accompaniment

The plight of Dalit widows, deserted women, denial of access to common property resources, children dropping out of schools, malnutrition, sexual exploitation of adolescent and young Dalit women in the workplaces are identified as issues that required priority intervention.

Education, Livelihood, Health and Hygienic, Empowerment, Rights and entitlements and Local Governance are identified to be key thematic areas of interventions with the focus groups being Dalit community paying special attention to children, youth, widows,  adolescent girls, deserted women, PWDs and landless and unorganized labourers.

The cluster programme will advocate indigenization of social work practices grounded in the contextualization of issues.  Self-empowered Dalit communities will have gained skills, knowledge and perspective change to seek good governance and partner status in service delivery systems through linkages and networking.

“The coming together and sharing of information can enable partners access Government Schemes for economic empowerment of Dalits through Tamil Nadu Minority Corporation ( TAMCO)” observed Mr.David from Salem and Mr.Patrick from Vellore. They are already functioning as district level office bearers in TAMCO.

The premise of the initiative of children clubs and parliament is that children exercise their real power; the aim is to enable them to take active roles in learning about and participating in the Dalit development process. Vulnerable Dalit children will not get dropped from schools and they will be aware of their rights by coping up with family pressures and living with dignity.

The main focus on Dalit empowerment is educating people and making them conscious and concerned about social justice, cooperation and self-reliance which is realized through; empowering local communities to initiate and sustain their own humanization process and encouraging the formation of people’s Organizations at grassroots to attain social justice, peace, and total human development.

“ In my 30 years of experience as an administrative assistant, I would have typed 100s of projects but only during this write-shop,  I come to understand how projects are evolved and ownership is developed” exclaims Ms.Kanikkai Mary of Vellore Social Service Society.

This pilot initiative designed for one year will cover 58 villages coming under 38 panchayats in 19 blocks of 7 districts in the State of Tamil Nadu.