The Dalit Bahujan Shramik Union (DBSU) is a Dalit-Bahujan civil rights organization locally coordinated from Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, South India

South India

South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...

.

Origins

The name "Dalit" refers to a group of people traditionally regarded as low caste

Caste system in India

The Indian caste system is a system of social stratification and social restriction in India in which communities are defined by thousands of endogamous hereditary groups called Jātis....

. The term expresses their "weakness, poverty and humiliation at the hands of the upper castes in the Indian society." The DBSU was previously known as the Andhra Pradesh Dalit Bahujan Vyavasaya Vruthidharula Union (APDBVVU). It was a conglomeration of various Dalit-Bahujan owned and managed community-based organisations across Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...

. It is dedicated to Damodaram Sanjeevaiah (former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...

 and President of AICC

All India Congress Committee

The All India Congress Committee is the Presidium or central decision-making assembly of the Indian National Congress Party. It is composed of members elected from State-level Pradesh Congress Committees and can have as many as a thousand members...

) and Shyam Sundar. Its vision is "equal opportunities for all to identity, security, livelihoods and future."

Kartavyam (Task)

To defend and expand dalit bahujan (DB) right to land, livelihoods and self-respect through sustained public action ensuring equal participation of women.

About

DBSU works in 16 districts of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...

 with 550,000 DB families, establishing an efficient structure with equal participation of women. They possess legal ownership of 25,000 acres (100 km²) of land, while utilizing government programmes to further public safety and secure civil rights. In panchayati raj DBSU has become a viable political force, working so others can live with dignity.

Interventions

• Efficient structure established with equal women’s participation and effective leadership from Village to State, protecting rights of the DB, supporting livelihood opportunities and self dignity.

• Food security of 25,000 DB families established with at least 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) of land assigned and ownership rights and development.

• Using available Government plans, including Supreme Court directives regarding basic food rights, one lakh DB families were guaranteed an additional 100 days of employment per year with minimum wages.

• DBSU members of the 16 districts are asserting and protecting their rights by raising awareness of the various Acts related to child labour, bonded labour, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and other right protection Acts like right to information, etc.,

• In 16 districts DB is politically aware of their rights and responsibilities, gained political authority and positions and supporting the socio-economic and political development of the DB.

• DBSU has established connections with many movements and organizations, from mandal to state and national levels, influencing policy on employment, political rights, self-dignity, and public safety.

Administration

The DBSU is headed by a State Committee, operating through a General Secretary and an Organising Secretary elected for a term of two years.

Community-based wings

• Andhra Pradesh Differently-Abled Peoples Collective (APDAPC)
• Andhra Pradesh Jogini Vyavastha Vyathirekha Porata Samithi (APJVVPS),

• Safai Karmachari Andolan,

See also

• Dalit (outcaste)
• Peoples Action for Rural Awakening, Punarnirmaan
  Punarnirmaan
  Punarnirmaan is one of the response programmes of Dalit Bahujan Shramik Union and Peoples Action for Rural Awakening to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake-affected people of the districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Krishna, and East Godavari in the state of Andhra Pradesh, South India.Activities through...
  
  , Navnirmaan
  Navnirmaan
  Navnirmaan is a Tsunami response programme of Peoples Action for Rural Awakening for the Tsunami-affected people of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, South India.-Background:...
  
  
• Sri N.Paul Diwakar
  Paul Diwakar
  Sri N.Paul Divakar is a Rights Activist. At present, he is the Convenor of National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights based in New Delhi. He was formerly the General Secretary of the Dalit Bahujan Shramik Union, a Dalit-Bahujan rights organisation in Andhra Pradesh.-His background:Sri Divakar is...
  
  , Past General Secretary, DBSU
• Fr.Thomas Pallithanam, Past Organising Secretary, DBSU