HUMAN RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM

Violation of human rights undermines the ability of human being to access development and social justice. The violators of human rights range from powerful and feudalistic communities and individuals to state agencies and settlers. Dalits of Himalayas have worse status of their human rights, as no socio-political empowerment has taken place. They have been historically deprived, marginalized and excluded as a result of unjust caste system. Tribes of Santal Parganas in Jharkhand have lost their lands – the basis of survival – to massive alienation of tribal lands by non-tribal settlers. Grassroots India has initiated interventions at local level in Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand to address the issues of local communities.

Current Projects

Dalit Rights & Empowerment

Dalits in Himalayas especially in Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal have socially, economically and environmentally deprived for time immemorial. There is sheer discrimination against them manifested in forms of untouchability. They cannot enter the houses of upper castes, nor they are given food in common utensils. Drinking water sources and temples/deities are also separate. Villages or habitations of dalits exist more on south-facing slopes, on wastelands, or surrounded by scarce natural resources. On the contrary, upper castes villages mostly enjoy plenty of natural resources including water and biomass. Dalit families have scanty landholdings. For centuries, dalit community in mountains has silently accepted subjugation avoiding any violent conflict (inter-community). Social deprivation is coupled with economic and social injustice. Majority of the families usually depend on NTFPs collection for bare survival. Women usually face brunt of the violation of human rights by the upper strata people. They are also often exploited physically and economically. Such situations are fierce and grievous in interiors of mountains where GIT has been implementing dalits empowerment activities. There is a identified need to alter the power relations in the society, which is only possible through organizing and empowering the suffering community.

To change the power relations in society of mountains, the planned and strategic interventions are undertaken at local level. There are identified four areas of interventions: (i) organization and leadership, (ii) rights education, (iii) social empowerment, and (iv) improvement of economics of families.

The project is currently operational in several panchayats of Kullu district with future possibility of expansion in Mandi, Kangra and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh.

For achievements of the project, please see Annual Report.
For further information, please contact the organization.

Tribal Land Rights

Land is life for the tribes. But the land is becoming scarcer to the tribes day by day as it is alienated by settlers and powerful co-existing communities or acquired in the wake of globalization by the government and corporations. Santal Parganas of Jharkhand is inhabited majorly by Santal and Paharia tribes. The non-tribal settlers and immigrants, industries and urban agglomerations have taken away the lands of tribes massively. As a result thousands of tribal families have become landless and live without any base of livelihood. Protecting tribal lives and livelihoods by litigating to liberate the lands is the action of urgent attention. GIT has tied up with a local tribal organization, Santal Education Trust, in Santal Parganas of Jharkhand.

The project is currently operational in Santal Parganas region of Jharkhand.

For achievements of the project, please see Annual Report.
For further information, please contact the organization.

Additional Proposed Projects
•	Rights livelihood approaches of development consisting of policy analysis and advocacy (Central India)
For further information on these proposed projects, please see List of Projects OR contact the organization.

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