Manuski

Annihilating Caste – the Next Step

At

NAGALOKA

February 5-7, 2010

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Caste is the basis of the worst suffering in India. Without its eradication, there can be no real social, cultural, psychological, economic and political development.

It is now 53 years since Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar died. The movement he initiated is developing in many, many ways. Daily more are becoming inspired by him. Much has been and is being done as a result

From time to time there is a need to review past work and successes, and the current situation,  to understand the needs of the moment, and determine the next step in terms of social interventions. This conference is  an attempt to do just that. We are concentrating on Maharashtra as we have most experience in this State, and because the field is so vast. Future conferences will expand the scope.

We hope that after these three days:

1.      Activists will have a basis to review the appropriateness and effectiveness of their contribution to society.

2.      Funding organisations, including Government agencies, will have a basis to review where they can most effectively help.

 

Friday 5^th February

8.00:  Registration and breakfast – people can come night before.

9.00 – 10.00:  Inauguration and Key note speech by Lokamitra

10.00:  Understanding and learning from the Past: Post-Ambedkar initiatives and developments with respect to annihilation of caste and development of communities

Morning session: Introspection on the work of TBMSG/ Bahujana Hitaya, Manuski. What have they been doing and is there a need for these approaches today?

 1.      Hostels:

2.      Community based social work;

3.       Natural Disasters:

4.       Manuski:

-          Atrocities

-          Training and leadership – women and other Dalit communities:

 

11.15: Tea

11.45 – 13.00: Other discriminated communities in Maharashtra. What work is taking place in these communities and to what extent is it successful.

                        -          Dalits

-          Tribal communities

-          Human Scavenging

 

13.00:  lunch break

15.00– 16.30: Discussions in group: creation of just society (annihilation of caste) from points of view of social welfare, awareness raising, livelihood.

 16.30:  tea

17.00   plenary session including input from funding organisations – what they have been concentrating on.

18.30: Dinner

19.30: Cultural event

 Saturday 6^th February

 An assessment of the present difficulties and limitations and how to work with them

Morning: presentation on the following or related  topics:

 

9.30 -11.00:

i.                    Social status and attitudes The prevalence of caste from without and within. Dealing with violence; awareness raising, leadership.

ii.                  Psychology and religion

iii.                The resulting poverty/employment/lack of education – where to go

iv.                 Double discrimination - difficulties faced by women

11.00:  tea

11.30 – 12.45:  discussion groups

- social 

- religious

- economic

- Educational

- women

 

13.00:  lunch

15.00: Plenary

16.00:  tea

16.30:  Panel discussion on the following subjects:

i.                    Beyond caste

ii.                  How to make sure we do not leave out those who suffer the most from discrimination (because of no leadership or self perpetuating views).

iii.                Creating awareness  - national community, international community, Government and NGOs (including foreign).

18.00: dinner

19.30: cultural programme

 

Sunday 7^th Feb: 

 

09.00 – 10.00 Keynote speech: The responsibilities of Govt, funding organisations and NGOs.

10.00 Funding Organisations and Government – what they are doing and what they can do, and what they need to do it.

- MS Govt.  

- Corporate Social Responsibility  

- foreign funding organisations

 11.30: tea

12.00 – 13.00: group discussion – what funding organisations and govt agencies should concentrate on in view of findings of this conf

13.00 – 14.30: lunch

14.30 – 15.30:  plenary session

15.30 – 16.00: tea

16.00 – 17.15 Responses from Govt officers, funding organisations and a few activists on what gained.

17. 15 conclusion and thanks.

 Buddhist retreat February 7-9 (starting and ending with evening):

 Buddhist retreat for those who want to attend. We want to take the opportunity to show the significance of Buddhist practice in this work.

 

For further details, contact:

Priyadarshi: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (9673313177)

Mangesh: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (9823460581)

 
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A conference on September 26-27, 2009