Indian Social Forum: Dalits claim equal socio-economic rights

The five day (9-13 November 2006) Indian Social Forum was mainly address anti-globalisation extravaganza whose theme is ‘Building another world: visions for the future’ bringing crucial issues related to Imperialistic Globalisation, Militarism and Peace, Communalism (Religious sectarianism and fundamentalism), Casteism, Racism, Exclusion and gender discrimination and Patriarchy. There are about 50,000 people from across Asia, representing diverse movements, cultural outfits and organisations, gathered for the Indian Social Forum (ISF) in New Delhi. During all five days there was differnet event related to Social Justice, Casteism, Social Exclusion and Gender Discrimination and Patriarchy. The NGO, National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) mainly orgainsed events related dalit's rights to land, education and other socio-economic rights at par with other communities including seminar on dalits rights to development and also discussion on India's development goals and dalits status and policy intervention especially in budget allocation. During the seminar, the speakers and participants expressed the dalits problems in India and also in the context of South Asia (Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) and the similar social group namely the Burakumin from Japan. In South Asia the Dalits alone account over 200 million people. In India alone they account for 20 percent of the present day Indian population. Historically this group has been excluded from social and economic rights including right to education and employment other than the forced traditional and customary undignified labour, owing to the restrictions imposed on them under the myth of the caste system and the institution of untouchability. They also suffer from social exclusion in so far as they are residentially segregated and excluded through the practice of untouchability. In view of the broad situation there were several issues discussed at the ISF. They are to: sensetise the role of the state in provision of public services like education, housing, health for Dalits; ensure employment in government and the public sector and key industries, viz, banking, insurance etc., and particularly under the policy of reservation; provide due share of spical component plan expenditure to reduce poverty among dalits; stop economic discrimination in various markets particularly in land, labour, employment, capital, and social services faced by the Dalits; make relevant mechanism to provide protection to Dalits against the discrimination in the market, particularly in capital, employment and social service. More over, the organizer and participants also urged to understand the deeper impact of Globalisation on Dalits and disseminate them at all levels; help to have a conceptual clarity among grass root Dalit activists on globalization and its impact on Dalits; articulate Dalit concerns and issues of Globalisation with the mainstreams Dalit concerns and also to align with other social movements and especially with other discriminated communities across the world; and also join the mainstream movements in the world to oppose all dominant, oppressive and divisive forces and to find out alternatives to promote 'another world where justice, equality and peace will prevail.' The NCDHR mobilized 1500 Dalit activists as delegates from over India and also from other courtiers in south Asia besides many Dalit leaders and intellectuals participated and shared their views on dalits development.

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