Empowerment of Dalits in India

While sectors of the nation's economy grow and flourish, millions of people are left behind without access to development and opportunity. Caste-based discrimination continues to grow and equality is just a dream. Education is the key to providing children with the knowledge, and skills to earn a living leading to a healthier, more productive life.

We visited the gypsy colony near Tindivanam last month, nearly 100 families segregated from the mainstream, pretty isolated, living very simple lives under thatched roofs with basic necessities, quite happily. They were happy to welcome us as they normally do not get any visitors from outside of their own network.

We spent some time with them and shared their experience of our support for their borewells that really saved a couple of miles every day to fetch water from their neighbours. The young girls who just finished schooling are interested in tailoring and live up to their present-day needs.

Dalit Solidarity has a Mission Outreach for the children of human laundries who are known as Dhobies, people who are dalits among dalits, who are traditionally delgated to wash the dirty clothes of others in a village.

For centuries, they have been abused, exploited and humiliated as cheap human machines to do people's laundry with little compensation of leftover food and grains. They never had a life of dignity and respect.

Their children had no opportunities to attend the schools as they were forced to follow up their parents' job. Education is the key to bring these children back to the main stream of the society. We distributed school supplies like school bags, notebooks, etc. for 60 children.