Programme Activities

Programme Priorities for 2005

The Dalit Task Force is meeting presently during 26th November 2004 to sort out the priorities. We have circulated the programme of activities in the next four years. Out of these activities we have to prioritise the first crucial steps in the movement to inaugurate the movement in 2005.

The first one would be a newsletter indicating the atrocities against the dalits that warrant the intervention of the Church.

The second important thing is to select at least 50 pilot congregations and their pastors to train and empower them to resist oppression through theological understanding and practical measures. So training of local leaders, pastors and others would be our highest priority.

Thirdly, there is also need for some resources for extending legal aid where atrocities take place.

Fourthly, to create a Website to communicate to the network the progress of our engagements.

With these priorities we start the dalit liberation movement in the year 2005. With whatever resources we raise in India we start our programmes and I am assured by friends that they will stand by us as we proceed further.

Hence, the most important thing for us is to take the initiatives for the dalit liberation movement, in great faith in the Lord our God in Christ and also make dalit liberation movement as ecumenical as possible by enlisting the support of our Roman Catholic friends as well as the Evangelical friends will be greatly willing to join us or start their own ministries. Let us commend this movement to the member Churches of the NCCI.

UELCI takes the Initiatives

The UELCI is getting ready to start this movement and is mobilizing resources through the Lutheran World Federation. The Dalit Task Force will coordinate our liberation activities with UELCI to avoid duplication and overlapping. We are glad that already a large section of the NCCI member Churches (the UELCI) is going ahead with the liberation programmes. This is a very encouraging sign and thus the dalit liberation movement is ready to take off the ground.

Programme Activities

1. Theological and Biblical Studies
2. Production of historical and sociological literature
3. Training Pastors and other voluntary workers
4. Production of literature related to dalits concerns, study and training materials
5. Production of periodical newsletters
6. Information Technology: Website, Internet
7. Training in use of media
8. Legal Aid - both action and training
9. Action programmes - congregation based
10. Networking of dalit action networks
11. Fact Finding Mission (Team Visits especially Dalit atrocities)
12. Capacity building for dalit activist groups - Self-support for educational and skills training initiatives
13. Lobbying with Government - State and Central - and other NGO and UN agencies
14. Institution of Scholarship fund for Dalit leadership development
15. Development of leadership activities

Methodology:

Summer Institutes, Regional Workshops, Church based Conferences, Congregation based Workshops, Heads of Churches Promotional meetings at regional and national levels.