The work in India is being done under Baroness Caroline Cox's leadership with local on the ground partners. This is the work that HART-US wants to leverage support for and to assist in bringing awareness to through its US partners.

Background

Prevalent in Dharmapuri are the most marginalized and oppressed people of India. The Dalits, number approximately 250-300 million throughout India, are outside and below the Hindu Caste system, which is 'officially' forbidden by the Indian constitution, and upheld by decisions of the Supreme court, including ones in favor of Dalits specifically.

In practice, the Caste system, and the oppression of the Dalits, still exerts power economically, educationally, socially, politically and of course religiously. Although theoretically Hindu, there are nearly total restrictions on their entering temples and participating in religious festivals. Because of their low social standing, affluent parts of society deny the Dalits their basic human rights, causing them to suffer socially and economically.

Unable to access education and because of the social stigma of “untouchability”, Dalits are forced to take up the lowest paid jobs which do not provide enough income for the most fundamental of commodities: food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or an education for their children.

Shackled to a social and religious system that removes personal freedom, the Dalits are victims of a form of modern-day slavery that, without intervention, results in a vicious cycle of poverty and discrimination through the generations. The restrictions on their walking through the main street of a town or village, thereby polluting it is claimed to no longer apply with such vehemence, and they are no longer generally required to attach and drag a broom behind them to cleanse where they have walked. However, access to health and educational opportunities continues to be a nearly universal problem.