– DALITS AND MDGS –

‘Dalit Voice’ of Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (Keep Your Promise)

WADA NA TODO (KEEP YOUR PROMISE) CAMPAIGN emerged out of the civil society discussions held after the World Social Forum in Mumbai on the MDG Campaign in January 2004. During the discussions, it was realised that that there was a strong need to follow the promises and commitments made by the governments and international bodies such as the United Nations in order to make them accountable to their promises and commitments. It was felt that the promises made by the State in the National Development Goals and Common Minimum Programme provide quite legitimate ground to build citizen’s movement. Global solidarity with the MDGs was found to be useful to influence the Indian State and monitoring India’s Record on Millennium Development Goals.

DALITS IN WADA NA TODO CAMPAIGN

Right from the inception of Wada Na Todo Campaign in the Mumbai, Dalits are integral part of this campaign. In August 2004 consultation on MDG in New Delhi that incorporated Dalits’ Perspective on MDGs, clearly visualised Dalits as one of the important and effective Voice of the Campaign. It was strongly felt that the Dalit Organisations should root these campaigns among the Dalits.

National Conference of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) has been an integral part of Wada Na Todo Campaign since its inception and has been on forefront of Wada Na Todo Campaign to articulate its Dalit Perspective and to outreach to Dalit constituency. NACDOR is the member of the Core Team of Wada Na Todo Campaign.

ACTIVITIES

p Workshop to influence the 11th Five Year plan

NACDOR, in conjunction with the WNT campaign partners, organized a day long consultation with Dalits, Adivasis and Minorities and their supporters in New Delhi on 23 July 2005. The workshop critically evaluated the MDGs/CMP/NDGs from a Dalit perspective. Dalit members of parliament, media and intellectuals were invited to this workshop to support Dalit issues in parliament, news media and academic journals. The overarching objective of the workshop was to ensure the needs of Dalits are adequately addressed in the Indian government’s 11th five year plan to meet the MDG commitments for the Dalit population.

NACDOR organized a consultation with Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribals and Minorities officers working at various levels in the Indian administration on 21 July 2005 in New Delhi. Mr. Salil Shetty, Director, UNMDG Campaign participated in the meeting. The objective of this meeting was to mobilize officers in the administration to monitor government processes which impact on Dalits and support the Dalit constituency in government affairs.

p Status of Dalits in relation to the MDGs/FYP/CMP

NACDOR is working on the status of Dalits vis-à-vis the MDGs/Common Minimum Programme (CMP)/National Development Goals (NDGs). A particular focus of this research is on documenting the status of Dalit women in relation to the MDGs. This research will be published in a report which will underpin education and campaigning activities. Findings from the report will be condensed into four fact sheets and two thousand copies of each fact sheet will be produced.

p Outreach and Education to Dalits on the MDGs

NACDOR is working on fact sheets. Copies of fact sheets will be to disseminated to Dalit organisations across India. Dalit specific consultations with Dalit organisations and peoples’ movements are also regularly organised to raise awareness amongst Dalits about the MDGs/CMP/NDGs and inform them of the government’s responsibility to meet the basic needs of every Indian citizen. The first of these consultations took place in July 2005.

Media outreach

NACDOR has designed and prepared communications materials such as leaflets, posters and banners targeted at Dalit activists and workers. NACDOR has organised press conferences in Chandigarh (Haryana and Punjab), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), and Ajmer (Rajasthan).

p Mobilisation of Dalits

NACDOR has been mobilising Dalits across India to partake in mobilisation for MDGs in 2005. The first such mobilisation took place across India on 15 August 2005, the National Demand Day on Freedom from Hunger and Poverty. More than a half million people all over India participated in India. More than 75000 white bands were distributed to grass-root Dalit organisation throughout India for this day of action.

NACDOR launched Blue Badge Campaign in World Dignity Forum’s March to Parliament on the occasion of World Dignity Day – International Day of Dalits’ Struggle on 5 December 2005 in New Delhi. Mr. Salil Shetty, Director UNMDG Campaign launched this by showing a replica shield of Blue Badge to the more than 8000 participants of the Rally at the India’s Parliament. Mr. Ashok Bharti, National Coordinator of NACDOR and Convenor World Dignity Forum, Ms. Rajni Tilak, Executive Director (Hon), Centre for Alternative Dalit Media (CADAM), and grass root Dalit leaders from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttaranchal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh etc. The Peoples’ Dignity March culminating into Peoples’ Dignity Rally at the Parliament in New Delhi was addressed by many prominent political leaders, member of Parliament, grass root Dalit leaders and social activists. It included Mr. A.B. Bardhan, General Secretary Communist Party of India, Mr. Ramdas Athavale MP and President Republican Party of India, Mr. Surendra Mohan ex-MP and formerly Chairman of Khadi Gramodyog Commission of India, Mr. Sanjay Paswar, formerly State Minister and Spokesperson Rashtriya Janata Dal, Mr. Vijay Pratap, founder Vasudhiave Kutumbakam and Convenor, Socialist Front, Mr. Mukul Sharma, Convenor, World Dignity Forum, Mr. Inder Raj Saini, Chairman All India Saini Sabha, Ms. Rajni Tilak, National Federation of Dalit Women, Ms. Seema Bahadur, Dalit Jan Kalyan Samiti, Ms. Madhuri Maurya, NACDOR, Mr. Nanda Chouhan, Mahila and Yuva Utthan Sanstha (UP), Mr. Jagdish Yadav (MP) etc. Mr. Salil Shetty and Mr. AshoK Bharti also addressed the rally. More than 8500 Blue Badges were distributed amongst the participants.

The Blue Badge Campaign was also launched by prominent Dalit leader and Member of Parliament Mr. Ramdas Athavale in Mumbai in on 6 December 2005 at Shivaji Grounds in Mumbai in a rally attended by more than a hundred thousand people. Mr. Ashok Bharti, National Coordinator of NACDOR, Mr. Ashok Sinha of Action Aid UP, Mr. Avinash Mahtekar of Republican Party of India and many important personalities of Dalit movement were present on the dais. 15,000 Blue Badges were distributed among the participants.

On the occasion of conclusion of World Dignity Week – International Week for Social Justice on 10 December, the International Human Rights Day, renowned social activists Ms Medha Patkar launched Blue Badge Campaign in a rally at Uttar Pradesh Assembly in the presence of Uttar Pradesh State Minister for Sales Tax Mr. Sanjay Garg. Among the prominent who were present on the occasion included Mr. Mukul Sharma, Mr. Ashok Choudhary, Hanumant Rawat, Ashok Sinha, Mr. Srikant Mishra, Mr. K.K. Roy and Ashok Bharti. 5000 Blue Badges were distributed among the participants.