Breaking Barriers: Dalit Women Challenge Caste Discrimination Through Community-Led Action
CAED's
initiative to organize Dalit families into solidarity groups, drawing on Paulo
Freire's conscientization approach and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's three-pillar
principles for social transformation, has led to significant social progress. A
key aspect of this intervention involves addressing generative themes during
group meetings, where participants engage in problem-solving using a 'code'
tool. This approach has empowered the community to take meaningful action, such
as during the Teej festival, when Dalit women from Tripurasundari
Municipality ward no 9 Chu and Mudkechula Rural
Municipality ward no 2 Kalika were able to worship at
Shiva Temples alongside non-Dalit women for the first time. This directly
challenged the entrenched caste-based discrimination that previously barred
Dalit women from participating fully in the rituals.
By
focusing on these generative themes and collective problem-solving, the groups
have been able to address social inequalities in a transformative way. This
achievement reflects the power of community-led action to break down barriers
of untouchability and foster inclusivity. It offers a hopeful vision of unity,
where education and empowerment play a crucial role in advancing equality.