Action for the Promotion of Dalit Human Rights
Dalit Rights Awareness Liberation Movement is facilitating the oppressed, down trodden, and especially Dalits to organise and fight against caste oppression and discrimination. There are nearly 1, 64,118 (Provisional data) Dalits in Karur district whose rights are being violated. Awareness among the general public about the status of Dalits particularly about the discrimination against and the atrocities perpetrated against them is not very encouraging. Dalits need to be liberated and empowered at socio, economic and political levels. The poor implementation of the existing legislations service standards and mechanisms have not supported the cause of the dalits. Example: till today, 52 cases were filed in Prevention of Atrocities on SC-ST Act in Karur District and only 2 were given punishment and many cases go unreported.

Understanding that the only way of hope for Dalits rests on the mobilization of strong resistance movements with Dalit leadership, AREDS facilitated these dalit families to form a strong movement called DRALM. It felt that a global effort is required to eradicate this age- old practice of untouchability. All the more it is highly necessary to create Conscientisation among various sectors of the society to bring attitudinal change and to seek their solidarity. Hence AREDS organised them into a strong movement in order to motivate them to involve in collective action. DRALM believes in their collective action for their development.

Dalit Reality
Dalit Social Housing Programme
Asset creation programme by AREDS and DRDA Credit cum Subsidy Programme helps the poor Dalit families to have assets. The families who were scattered and who were loosing their roots are seen coming together and joining with the families to build their houses. Increased labour contribution by family members and the material contributions saved by them have created the feeling that "we have done it ourselves". This asset building greatly reduces increased migration and increases the feeling of self worth. Dalit families benefited with this house and livestock worth Rs 60,000 and get regular income of Rs.70/- per day as additional income, asset of worth Rs 11,000 owned by each family. It directly or indirectly enhances

• Education to their children
• An appreciable interdependency
• Increased self confidence and self respect
• Increased standard of living
• Breakage of bonded labour
• Solidarity and unity among relatives
• Feel proud of having assets
• Shift from traditional work to trade works.

Action for Dalit human rights
One of the successful achievements of the programme is the eradication of the double glass system in the areas where Dalit movement is functioning. The instances of the insults hurled on them by the members of the upper castes are reported to the local Dalit groups which in turn act through legal means or by persuading the upper castes concerned to stop practicising discrimination against Dalits. The Dalits are found to be taking pride of their membership in DRALM. They have more self-confidence and self respect compared with others.

Parallel Conference to WCAR
OCAM* took part in a state-level parallel conference to Durban organized by AREDS and SWATE in coordination with a various dalit movements. It addresses the issue of casteism and demanded the govt. to include casteism in the debate in the U. N. Conference. This conference strictly insisted "Dalit Rights are Human Rights" and this caste discrimination and the dehumanizing practice of untouchability be incorporated into its declaration and programme of action and the prevalence of constitutional and legislative protections should be changed.

Dr. Ambedkar’s Birthday Celebration
OCAM organised a Seminar on Dalit liberation and 200 members took part in it. It was to mark the birthday celebration of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar who fought for Dalit liberation and annihilation of the caste system and to highlight the importance and contemporary relevance of Dr Ambedkar for the liberation of Dalits. Mr. S. V. Rajadurai, the well-known writer, and social activist who has authored a number of works on Periyar and Ambedkar gave the keynote address. It was an inspiring speech on 7 dimensions of Dr. Ambedkar and his commitments to the emancipation of Dalits. The key note address and the speeches made by others inspired the participants to take a resolve to fight against the atrocities on Dalits and commit themselves to strive for the liberation of Dalits.

Action against Dalit atrocity in Thinniam Village near Lalgudi
OCAM took part in a State level public meet conducted in Lalgudi demanding justice for the victims and action against the culprit person who forced two Dalits to eat human excreta.
Similarly it took part in other inter-movement actions such as analysis on implementation SC-ST atrocities act for the benefit of the oppressed. 4 dalit leaders got training on SC-ST atrocities acted and collected information regarding that. This helped them to make dalits benefit under the act. The trained staff conducted explanatory meetings in 20 villages to inform and educate dalits about the SC-ST atrocity act. While getting into the field to find out the facts about the filed cases, they found out that many cases go in vain due to threats and partial investigation. Hence this movement strongly involved in bringing conscious people to ensure the effective implementation of legislation and mechanisms in SC-ST atrocity act and thus to protect dalit from caste discrimination and atrocities.

* OCAM-- Oppressed Caste Awareness Liberation Movement