National Conference of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR)

National Conference of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) is a growing movement/ network of grass-root Dalits organisations.  Strongly committed to Dalits and their cause, it collaborates with broader ‘secular, democratic, progressive, egalitarian’ movements without loosing its ‘Dalit perspective’.

Initiated by Centre for Alternative Dalit Media (CADAM) as an ever-expanding process of sharing of views, experiences and learning with Dalit ideologues, intellectuals, writers, trade union leaders, social workers, activists and leaders of grass root Dalit organisations at the dawn of 20th century, which culminated into first ever three day National Conference of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) from 8 – 10 December 2001 in New Delhi.  Emerged as an outcome of this historic conference, NACDOR has already established itself as a nationwide network of Dalit Organisations and playing a very active role in societal transformation of Dalits.

NACDOR is presently comprised of more than 300 organisations in BIMARU (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal) and non-BIMARU states of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry. It has a nationwide network of committed volunteers working selflessly for the empowerment of the Dalits. Unyielding in its purpose, the NACDOR work for ensuring the educational, social, economic, political and cultural equality of Dalits (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes) and marginalised group of citizens through democratic processes. It believes in equal dignity of all and considers dignity as non-negotiable.

NACDOR is committed to a people-centred and people controlled development model where establishment of dignity of Dalits and marginalised is of paramount importance and their overall development, including social, economic, political and cultural, is central to all decisions made and processes evolved. NACDOR discuss and evaluate policies, programmes, documents, and interventions and focuses on the role of the organisations, institutions, entrepreneurial efforts, agencies, corporate bodies, political parties and leadership of various entities to make them accountable to positively address the concerns of the masses in general, and Dalits in particular.

NACDOR works towards increasing participation of Dalits and marginalised through various enabling strategies, programmes and processes such as advocacy, lobbying, networking, sensitising, exhibitions, publications, issue based workshops, debates, seminars, conferences, group meetings, public meetings involving grass root organisations, communities and their leaders; and identifying activists, individuals, officials, political leaders, groups, organisations to intervene to ensure fundamental socio-economic rights, including human rights, enshrined in Indian Constitution and in various covenants, treaties, declarations, resolutions of International bodies such as United Nations.

Innovative in its approach, it is credited with launching a Self Help Movement of the Dalits encouraging Dalits to create Alternative Institution for Dalit Empowerment (AID Empowerment) by channelising Dalit energy, communitarian potential and resource optimisation. Concretising larger Dalit agenda, NACDOR is actively involved in improving Dalit Health, consolidating Dalit Economy, encouraging Dalit Culture, developing Dalit Media, promoting Dalit Entrepreneurship, building Dalit Perspective, educating Leadership, training Activists, lobbying with Governmental/non-Governmental institutions, agencies etc and voices Dalit concerns in national, international processes, movements and initiatives.

Being a vibrant movement of the Dalits, it has acquired a prominent place in the contemporary social movements of India. NACDOR is the founder of World Dignity Forum and an active promoter and supporter of World Social Forum in India.  As a core member of Wada Na Todo Campaign (Indian version of Keep Your Promise Campaign), it lead ‘Dalit Voice’ of Wada Na Todo Campaign.