10.6.1 Establishment: 1991
10.6.2 Back ground:
The Dalit Movement as conceived by CARDS encompasses all categories and classess of Indian Society who are victims of socio-economic discrimination and oppressions on account of Stigma attributed to them by birth. The people of Various tribes, known by different names such as Lambadies, Gonds, Yerukas, Yanadis, Chenchus, Koyas etc., who mostly live in the seclusion of hilly and forest areas constitute an important segment of Dalit Movement. These tribal people are recognized as distinct category of the national polity, as scheduled tribes in the Indian Constitution and are vested with certain constitutional safeguards and rights for their development and progress consistently with the preservation of their traditions and culture. But as they stay far away from the civilized society, unaware and unconcerned about the political, social and economic developments in the rest of the society, living as they do in the midst of their own uncivilized world of illiteracy, ignorance and disease, by primitive methods of agriculture and social customs of their own, they are subjected to all sorts of exploitation by the plains people who often encroach into their tribal domain of forests and hills in pursuit of potential sources of wealth and keep them in perpetual poverty and misery. CARDS desires to bring them into the fold of Dalit Movement, to secure them their rightful place in the society and safeguard them from exploitation and oppression. A conference was held during 1991-92 for this purpose at the instance of Dalit Open University. A world conference of tribal peoples was also held later. CARDS was also represented at the conference. Against this background, an All India Indigenous Youth Forum was established by CARDS during 1991-92.
10.6.3 Activities:
- Creating awareness of the living conditions and problems of Tribals among other non tribal Dalits.
- Creating International recognition of the problems of Tribals in India.
- Reorientation of the education and research activities with a view to give due recognition to the role of tribal people in the Indus Civilization.
- Education of the tribal people about their constitutional rights and safeguards and the schemes and programmes of the Govt. for their welfare and development.
- Promotion of unity and peace among the peoples of different tribes and dissemination of information required for the purpose.