Who are Pals for Dalits?
We are a world church group at Loughton Methodist Church (LMC) who are motivated to express Jesus' radical call to work for justice and liberation. We raise money for and awareness of specific projects - we are currently supporting the Dalit Youth Project.
Who are the Dalits?
Formerly referred to as outcastes and untouchables, there are approximately 200 million Dalits in India (20% of the population). The term “Dalit” means those who have been broken and ground down. They suffer discrimination, violence and enslavement every day. For generations the Dalits have also been compelled to perform the most lowly, menial, dangerous and degrading forms of labour in this caste-based society.
Every day two Dalit houses are burnedWhat is the Dalit Youth Project?
Every day three Dalit women are raped
Every day two Dalits are murdered
Every two hours a Dalit is assaulted
This is an established programme of transformation for young Dalits, run by the Church of North India and their representative, Kasta Dip. Young Dalits are offered IT training to improve their confidence and provide future economic opportunities. This offers a practical alternative to the generations of injustice and exclusion from mainstream Indian education.
The story so far:
Our present fundraising total is £16,500.“And what does the Lord want of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. “Micah 6.8
The first batch of 25 computers have been sent from the UK to India
Two pilot projects have been set up in Kolhapur and Ahmedebad dioceses teaching Dalit students IT skills crucial for their future development and employability.
LMC sponsored Kasta Dip to come to the UK, to give a first-hand account of the issues facing Dalits and to promote and encourage support for the Dalit Youth Project. He spent one month working with other interested groups, churches and schools gaining support.
