HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

MOVEMENT OF INDIA
Sponsored by

THE DALIT LIBERATION EDUCATION TRUST

Organizational Profile

Name of the Organization

:

DALIT LIBERATION EDUCATION TRUST

Subsidiary

:

HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION MOVEMENT OF INDIA

Office Address

:
No.46, Main (Butt) Road, St. Thomas Mount,

Chennai - 600 016, Tamil Nadu, South India.
( 91 044 – 2341146, 2331199, Fax: 4913365

E-mail: hremi @ vsnl.com

Website : http/www.pcsadvt.com/dlet/ & http/www.pcsadvt.com/dlet/thedelta.htm

Legal Status

:

Non-Governmental Secular Organization (NGO), Registered under Trust Act in April 1985. Registration No. 74/1985 for the uplift of the oppressed people.

INTRODUCTION:

The Dalit Liberation Education Trust is a registered Trust and was initiated in 1985 in order to empower, motivate and organize community education activities for Dalit youth in order to uplift and liberate them. The Rt. Rev M. Azariah is the Chairperson of the Trust and Mr. Henry Thiagaraj, its Managing Trustee. Both are deeply committed to the upliftment and Socio-economic improvement of the Dalits. The DLET and its main wing the Education Facilitation Centre functions as a coordinating body which promotes the work of village youth and womens groups, organizes Dalit youth leadership camps, facilitates exchange of ideas, sharing of experiences and bringing people together from different political and religious groups for dialogue and discussion. It has emerged as a base support body to empower Dalit men and women, organizations and individuals who work with them towards the realization of their human rights. From this has emerged the subsidiary and current programme phase namely the Human Rights Education Movement of India (HREMI).

GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF OPERATION:

The DLET operates in 7 districts of Tamil Nadu namely Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Sivagangai, Chennai, Salem and Dharmapuri covering a total of approximately of 209 villages. The area has been divided into 7 clusters. Each cluster caters to 10 to 15 villages. The small staff team in 1985 has now grown to accommodate 50 full time programme and administrative staff. Included among the staff are also advocates appointed in Chennai, Madurai and Kancheepuram to take up legal cases.

OBJECTIVES:

To liberate Dalit men and women from the clutches of bondage and exploitation.

To educate and motivate Dalit youth through Leadership Training camps in order to utilize their potential to create a new society free of discrimination and exploitation.

To empower Dalits at the micro level, to develop organized communities with self-esteem, security and human dignity for the landless poor through mobilization of human resources, social awareness, Legal Aid Services and by increasing the accessibility of people to government programs on Poverty Eradication.

To facilitate at the macro-level organization of people for Social Education and development through solidarity networking, documentation and Publication, advocacy, lobbying and by organizing Seminars and Rallies; and to effectively utilize the human resources of the organization, staff training and Development Programs at frequent intervals on Leadership Dynamics, Group Dynamics, Community Organization, etc.

Programmes of DLET

The following programmes are being implemented at different levels to enable the Dalits to regain their social, economic, cultural and political status in society and to achieve self-respect and dignity:

Micro Level Programmes

Formation of Dalit youth and women sangams in villages

Implementation of government programmes for poverty alleviation

Initiation of Dalit Bank (Informal banking)

Free legal service to the victims of social injustice and communal riots

Organizing Dalit people in urban slums

Dalit youth leadership camps

Human rights education

Non-formal education

Skill development and income generation activities

Production of audio & video cassettes on social themes

Palar River Delta Project - a training centre for Dalits and a rural school of ecology

Cultural programmes

Macro Level Activities:

Seminars at state and national levels

NGO Networking

Advocacy and lobbying through Network contacts at the regional, national and international levels

Development of print media - publication of books

ASSETS:

A vocational training centre for Dalits combining ecological care on ten acres of land on Palar River Delta area, 80 kms. South of Madras on the East Coast Road is presently nearing completion and is expected to be operational by April 2000. Asset cost about 20 million Rupees. This Centre has an international component for cross-cultural understanding and communication, to promote sustainable development, Human Rights Education, national integration and international harmony.

STAFF STRENGTH: 70 (as on June 1999)

For Further Particulars Contact: HENRY THIAGARAJ,

Managing Trustee, Dalit Liberation Education Trust

Delta Project	Delta School of Computers	Delta School of Nursing
Dalit International Newsletter - June 1999
Dalit International Newsletter - October 1999
Dalit International Newsletter - February 2000

HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION MOVEMENT OF INDIA #46, Main (Butt) Road, St. Thomas Mount Chennai (Madras) - 600 016, Phone: 091-044-2341146,Fax: 091-044-2331199.

Name of the Organization	:	DALIT LIBERATION EDUCATION TRUST
Subsidiary	:	HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION MOVEMENT OF INDIA
Office Address	:	No.46, Main (Butt) Road, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai - 600 016, Tamil Nadu, South India. ( 91 044 – 2341146, 2331199, Fax: 4913365 E-mail: hremi @ vsnl.com Website : http/www.pcsadvt.com/dlet/ & http/www.pcsadvt.com/dlet/thedelta.htm
Legal Status	:	Non-Governmental Secular Organization (NGO), Registered under Trust Act in April 1985. Registration No. 74/1985 for the uplift of the oppressed people.