The Christian Network Against Caste Discrimination (CNACD) exists to challenge the entrenched, antiquated beliefs of the caste system and help foster change for the discriminated communities globally, within the Church and across wider society.

 

Global caste-based discrimination is arguably the single largest surviving human rights and global poverty issue after slavery and apartheid. It is estimated, that world-wide some 260 million people suffer from discrimination based on caste. Some 25 million are estimated to have migrated from South Asia to other countries. Caste based prejudice and discrimination are operative in more than 100 countries where South Asians have migrated, including the UK.

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For decades the general public, NGOs and governments in the West have been involved in providing aid to address global poverty. Too often, these efforts have not considered the fact that the poverty of much of the global poor is caused by caste-based discrimination. International Aid Agencies [IAAs] responsible for addressing global poverty, appear reluctant to address the issue of caste related poverty. In the UK, there is also a gap in development studies – with few academic experts on the subject. Similarly, in countries like the UK, equality legislation addresses race, religion, and other protected characteristics, but it does not explicitly address ‘caste,’ despite clear evidence of caste discrimination in some areas. Finally, there is need for effective co-ordination amongst the groups sympathetic to the cause of Dalits, supporting and partnering with their campaigning efforts for the implementation of UK Caste legislation and for the reduction of global poverty.

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Hence, in addition to supporting the world-wide movement to end caste discrimination, there is a need for reviewing the structures, aid policies, academic interests and equality legislation in the UK and other countries where caste is an issue.