For more information, contact:

Madhu Chandra, aicc Regional Secretary

+91-97160-04939

Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs

+91-40-2786-8907

For immediate release

Dalit Leader’s Fast-Unto-Death for Private Sector Reservations

Dr. Udit Raj’s health is deteriorating, according to government doctor

All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations demands government fulfill 2004 promises

NEW DELHI -- 18 December 2009: The Dalit Freedom Network (DFN) and its India partner, the All India Christian Council (aicc), expressed concern over the health of Dr. Udit Raj, National Chairman, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations who entered his fourth day of a hunger strike. DFN and aicc leaders urged the Central government to take action and engage the Dalit leader on his demands for reservations in the private sector.

Dr. Raj started a fast-unto-death on Tuesday, December 15, 2009. He will only drink water until either the government meets his request or he dies.

Today a government medical team visited Dr. Raj and a doctor recommended hospitalisation due to falling blood pressure. Dr. Raj refused to leave Jantar Mantar, the park in central New Delhi known for historic protests.

The government has not responded to Dr. Raj’s request for affirmative action in businesses and corporations. A few politicians have visited Dr. Raj to express support such as Mr. A.B. Bardhan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India..

Dr. Joseph D’souza, International President of the Dalit Freedom Network, said, “After major changes to financial policies in the 1990s, India’s economy transformed and millions of government jobs began to disappear. The public sector shrank. Many state-owned industries were privatized. However, the vast majority of private sector corporations in India, including branch offices of multi-national companies, do not have affirmative action for Dalits. This is a significant, growing problem.”

Shortly after winning elections in 2004, the United Progressive Alliance promised to create more Dalit entrepreneurs and provide special training opportunities for Dalit university graduates. They finally presented a bill in Parliament in early 2009 regarding private sector reservations, but then it was withdrawn.

“The situation became critical in the last few weeks because prices of basic commodities like eggs, rice, and vegetables drastically increased. This, combined with the fact that many cannot find steady jobs in the growing private sector, means millions of Dalits are struggling and thousands becoming desperate,” said Madhu Chandra, Regional Secretary for the All India Christian Council.

Currently, India’s reservation system only exists in government-owned companies, universities, and institutions. Due to several events, Indian business leaders and associations promised in 2006 to voluntarily alter their human resource policies, but never implemented any significant changes.

“We urge political and economic leaders of India to respond to Dr. Raj’s fast unto death. Business policies must intentionally include neglected citizens of India -- especially the Dalits-Bahujans -- in the new economy. The poor must be assisted so they can afford the basic necessities of life,” said D’souza.

The All India Christian Council (www.christiancouncil.in), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian Christian organizations, lay leaders, and denominations.

The Dalit Freedom Network (www.dalitnetwork.org) is a non-partisan, non-government human rights organization founded in 2002 to support the Dalit-Bahujans in their emancipation movement through education, healthcare, economic advancement, and social justice advocacy and intervention.

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