Dalits in India
A WorldShare presentation
India is the world’s largest
democracy and has a population of
1.237 Billion people and there are 6
main religions in India; Hinduism,
Islam, Christianity, Sikhism,
Buddhism and Jainism
In India people are sorted by the Caste system, based
on the Brahaminical texts, into four categories, the
rest are seen as untouchables and sub human.
The Dalit people
• Are seen as worthless
• Are forced into servitude and degrading jobs
• It is harder for Dalit children to get an education.
How Dalits are treated
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Dalit’s cannot wear shoes around higher castes
Cannot own large pieces of land
Can’t ride bikes in higher caste areas
Have to use different cutlery for fear of
contamination and have to collect water from
different taps (often many miles away)
Cannot worship in same places as other castes.
Have to be buried separately from other castes
Can’t speak out about abuse that happens to
them.
Often live as slaves
Often denied health care
Dalit Abuse
Dalits suffer horrendous abuse including and not limited
to;
• Physical Abuse
• Segregation
• Denied rights
• Lynching
• Murder
• Rape and other sexual abuse
• Slavery
• Lack of access to healthcare, education and legal help
• Ridicule and verbal persecution
Anti discrimination laws
Two laws created from the Indian constitution to
deal with anti discrimination and anti caste
behaviour.
• The Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955/1976 –
gave all citizens equal rights (regardless of
gender, race or caste)
• Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
(Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. (offered
protection and reservations – which are good
Dalit Christians
There are approximately 24 million
Christians in India, 19 million of those
are Dalits, however the majority of
clergy and those in positions of power
are the higher castes. This means the
caste system exists in Christianity.
Caste systems in Christianity started in
the late 15th /early 16th century and
the ill treatment still exists today.
Why it sucks to be a Dalit Christian.
• Isn’t included in the scheduled castes
reservations for educational and
employment help
• Often abused for being a Christian
• Most likely to be taken advantage of in
society.
The Dalit Liberation Movement and the
Supreme court.
The Dalit Liberation Movement was started in 1985
to help Dalits get their rights and have the anti
discrimination laws enforced.
There has been an ongoing court battle with the
Supreme court to make sure that Dalit Christians
and Dalit Muslims are added into the schedule
castes act and allowed to compete for the
reservations in government schools and jobs.
What people are doing to help
There are many organisations
and groups working to help the
Dalits, in the UK and Abroad,
who want to break down caste
walls and build a better society
where equality and liberty
exists.
WorldShare works with some of
these is partnered with one
group called Bible Faith Mission,
encouraging Dalit’s to achieve
their dreams.
Thank you for your time.
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