Dalit Sujag Tehreek Explained

Dalit Sujag Tehreek
Size:150px
Abbreviation:DST
Type:Religio-political organization
Status:Foundation
Purpose:Social Reforms, Political rights
Area Served: Pakistan
Leader Title:Chairman
Leader Name:Radha Bheel
Leader Title2:Convener
Leader Name2:Dr Sono Khangarani
Leader Title3:Vice-chairperson
Leader Name3:Manga Ram Oad and Vesaki Mal Bhagri
Main Organ:21 member Core Committee
Region Served:Pakistan

The Dalit Sujag Tehreek (DST) is a movement and organisation representing the scheduled caste Hindu communities in Pakistan. Its core committee consists of 21 people from different scheduled caste Hindu communities such as Kolhi, Bheel, Meghwar, Oad, Bhagri.[1] [2]

History

The movement was launched in 2016 during the 125th anniversary of the birth of Baba Saheb Ambedkar at Mirpurkhas. It was formed by the combination of different Scheduled Caste organisations in Pakistan like Bheel Intellectual Forum (BIF), Oad Samaji Tanzeem, Pakistan Meghwar Council, Baghri Welfare Association, All Sindh Kolhi Association, Sindh Kolhi Itehad (Nemdas group), Sindh Kolhi Itehad (Ranshal Group), Qaumi Awami Tehreek and the Scheduled Caste Federation of Pakistan (SCFP). It was launched as a campaign against social discrimination faced by scheduled caste Hindus in Pakistan from both Muslims and upper caste Hindus.[3]

Although Scheduled caste Hindus form majority of the Hindu population in Pakistan, they are underrepresented in the political sphere. According to the Radha Bheel the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) has about 2,000 Hindu members, among them only 7 are from Scheduled Castes.[2]

Activities

Politics

During the formation of the DST, Chander Kolhi, the leader of Progressive Human Front said that the DST will take shape of a Dalit political party in Pakistan. [3] In the 2018 Pakistan General Election, five members of DST including 3 women contested in the General election under the DST banner.[6] [7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Dalit sujag tehreek: Scheduled caste Hindus elect officers. ExpressTribune. 26 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Always other. 26 July 2021.
  3. News: Ambedakar's ideology inspires Pakistan's Dalit Insaaf Tehreek in Pakistan. Yudhvir Rana. 26 July 2021.
  4. News: Dalits seek protection against ‘forced’ conversion. Dawn. 26 July 2021.
  5. News: Scheduled castes have a separate box for them, but only if anybody knew. Zia Ur Rehman. 26 July 2021.
  6. News: After Sunita Parmer, five more Dalit women enter race for general seats. 26 July 2021.
  7. News: Hindu dalit women in Pakistan contesting General elections 2018. Quint. 26 July 2021.