What your donations are funding in India
The UnionAID project in Tamil Nadu is a really good example of life-changing benefits for a relatively modest investment.
A recent evaluation of the project has confirmed that, not only is the project enabling dalit workers to achieve impressive monetary gains, it has also given these traditionally oppressed communities a dignity and respect which they have previously been denied.
The collective strength of more than 30,000 Dalit and tribal workers is achieving impressive results:
- Most importantly, they say, they now have recognition as human beings and workers, after centuries of discrimination and oppression.
- Minimum wages and conditions of employment have been negotiated, in many cases for workers who have been traditionally expected to undertake their work (such as cremating the dead) for no payment and then beg for food.
- Their collective strength has given them the ability to protect their children from being taken for child labour by dominant castes.
- As a group to be reckoned with, union members are now approached by local body candidates to canvass their voting strength, whereas previously they were ignored.
