Launch of Company Research Report

On Tuesday 22 April 2008, DSNUK launched our report Another Apartheid? Caste Discrimination and UK Companies at Portcullis House in London.

International companies are rapidly expanding into South Asia without addressing, or even demonstrating awareness of, the systemic violation of human rights that is caste discrimination. This report examines eight companies operating in different sectors including banking, oil, textiles and food. It demonstrates that whilst they all offer paper commitments to diversity and anti-discrimination policy, very few are willing to be country-specific in their actions. The Dalit Solidarity Network is challenging UK companies who claim to have an ethical approach to put in place positive policies to address the exclusion and abuse faced by Dalits. The recommendations at the end of the report emphasise the importance of caste awareness and monitoring in all parts of a company's activities and encourage companies to take steps to address the issue in their employment, corporate responsibility and (in the case of banks) lending policies.

This event was well attended by representatives of UK companies, NGOs and parliamentarians. Rob Marris MP gave a brief overview of the report. This was followed by a presentation by Michael Thevar, President of TempSolutions Inc, on "Dalits, Economic rights and access to private sector organisations - Why changes need to happen". Dan Rees, Director of the Ethical Trading Initiative, then spoke on "Engaging with companies to effect change" and finally Malini Thedani, Head of Corporate Affairs and Corporate Responsibility, HSBC India, gave a presentation on "The role of international companies in affirmative action and corporate social responsibility". Following these interesting and informative presentations, participants engaged in a lively question and answer session, chaired by DSNUK trustee Rodney Bickerstaffe.

A press release relating to the launch of this report is available here.

Network Meeting

A Dalit Solidarity Network UK network meeting was held on Tuesday 1 April 2008 at the House of Commons.

This event included an introduction to the strategic international campaign being led by activists in India, and supported by DSNUK, calling for an end to manual scavenging by 2010. Many Dalits are condemned to make their living through manual scavenging - removing human excrement from dry toilets. DSNUK is committed to working in solidarity with others to eradicate this vile and inhumane practice.

Following the meeting, a letter was sent to the High Commission of India in London, drawing attention to this issue, and calling for action from the UK and Indian governments. A copy of the statement is available here.

TUC event

On Tuesday 11 September 2007, DSNUK hosted India's Hidden Apartheid, a fringe event at the Trades Union Congress, which was sponsored by Unite the Union.

The event was very well received and about 50 people attended. After an introduction by Unite's Deputy General Secretary, Graham Goddard, DSN speaker, Meena Varma, gave an overview of caste and caste discrimination, outlined the progress that has been made at an international level regarding this issue and the challenges faced in persuading UK government and institutions to acknowledge and address this inequality which persists in Britain as well as abroad. Balram Sampla shared with the audience specific incidents of caste discrimination in the UK today within education and in the workplace.

This was an important opportunity to raise awareness and the response of those who attended was very encouraging. We look forward to developing relationships with new contacts and spreading the message further at future events.

Our thanks to Saba Mozakka, Communications Officer at Unite, and to all those who took part in the event.

DSNUK AGM

The annual general meeting of the Dalit Solidarity Network UK was held at Portcullis House on Tuesday 3 July 2007. Thank you to everyone who attended.

A copy of the minutes can be downloaded here.

Also available is our Annual Review 2006-7 which highlights our achievements over the past year.

On Friday 21 September 2007, the television programme Unreported World on Channel 4 exposed the horrific plight of Dalits in India. In India: the Broken People, Reporter Ramita Navai and Producer Siobhan Sinnerton travelled through the country visiting Dalits, highlighting the oppression they face and their struggle for equality.

DSNUK were pleased to be able to respond to requests for information from journalists and to provide assistance to them in the initial stages of their research. We welcome such opportunities to raise awareness with a wider audience of the hardship faced by millions of Dalits every day.

"You were our first port of call, and you really inspired us at the beginning of our journey. Thank you for your help, and it's thanks to people like you that we are able to bring this to TV."

More details about the programme can be found here.

Early Day Motion 1604 was tabled on 5 June 2007. Please write to your MP to urge them to sign.

EDM 1604
VIOLENCE WITH IMPUNITY AGAINST DALITS IN INDIA

That this House notes with grave concern the ongoing violence with impunity against Dalits in India (formerly called ‘untouchables') ; recalls the tragic murder of Surekha, Priyanka, Sudhir and Roshan Bhotmange in Khairlanji village in September 2006; regrets the chronic deficiencies in the investigation and the lack of prosecution of negligent police officers involved in the case; notes that official figures record approximately 26,000 atrocities against Dalits every year; notes that this statistic is unlikely to represent the true extent of violence; further notes a recent study on untouchability in rural India finding that Dalits faced discrimination in their access to police stations in 28% of villages and in their treatment in police stations in 32% of villages; notes the European Parliament Resolution of 1 February 2007 on the human rights situation of the Dalits in India; recognises the existence of legislation to protect Dalits from caste-based violence and humiliation in India; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to make representations to the Indian Government to urge for the effective implementation of laws protecting Dalits from violent attacks.

Another Apartheid? Caste Discrimination and UK Companies

DSNUK has published a report giving an an initial profile of eight companies and banks that are currently increasing their involvement in India and examining their employment and Corporate Social Responsibility policies in relation to caste discrimination. The companies have not been chosen because they are any better or worse than others. In fact some have a particularly good initial record in terms of the positions they are taking up. It is meant to be a snapshot which will inform both the companies and the wider society in the UK and India of the current situation and the potential for companies to develop policies and practices to address caste discrimination.

DSNUK strongly believe that all those becoming involved in the Indian economy, for whatever reasons, need to be aware of the caste issue and willing actively to address it in whatever way they can. We would welcome further input from all companies who are currently investing or planning to invest in India. Our aim is to open up dialogue and work with the corporate sector to inform best practice with regard to caste and caste discrimination.

Visit to companies in India

Continuing dialogue with major UK companies investing in India led to a visit in October 2007 by DSNUK trustee David Haslam at the invitation of HSBC and Standard Chartered to look at the work they are doing to address caste discrimination. The report of his visit "Eyes Wide Shut?" is available on request from the DSNUK office.