I remember learning about the Indian caste system in middle school social studies. But I guess I assume that things had improved, much like civil rights had improved for minorities in the US. I was really surprised to read that, in some parts of India, the “Dalit” or untouchables, are still an impoverished and segregated group. They suffer from discrimination, and even violence.

In fact, India contains 160 million people of the Dalit caste. Out of these, an estimated 40 million work as bonded labor in “slave-like” conditions. In addition, it is estimated that 15 million of these bonded workers are children.Women suffer more because they do not have land rights, and have even less access to education than males do. They also suffer from sexual violence on top of poverty and discrimination.

Lead Forward Helps With Volunteers and Education

I was encouraged to read about a group called Lead Forward which operates on the “teach a man to fish” principal. They operate schools, and also help provide scholarships, in impoverished Dalit villages. To learn more about lead forward, read about one American volunteer’s adventures in India.

American Lead Forward Volunteer Teaches India’s Untouchables

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