Dalit Sujag Tehreek

The Dalit Sujag Tehreek (DST) is a movement and organisation representing the scheduled caste Hindu communities in Pakistan. Its core committee consists of 21 persons from different scheduled caste Hindu communities like Kolhi, Bheel, Meghwar, Oad, Bhagri etc.

History

The movement was launched in 2016 during the 125th birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Ambedkar at Mirpurkhas. It was formed by the combination of different Scheduled Caste organizations in Pakistan like Bheel Intellectual Forum (BIF), Oad Samaji Tanzeem, Pakistan Meghwar Council, Baghri Welfare Association, All Sindh Kolhi Association, Sindh Kolhi Itehad (Nemdas group), Sindh Kolhi Itehad (Ranshal Group), Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Scheduled Caste Federation of Pakistan (SCFP) etc. It was launched as a campaign against social discrimination faced by scheduled caste Hindus in Pakistan from both Muslims and from upper caste Hindus.

Although Scheduled caste Hindus form majority of the Hindu population in Pakistan, the representation of them in political sphere is very less. According to the Radha Bheel the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) has about 2,000 Hindu members, among them only 7 are from the scheduled caste.

Activities

*The DST has formed protests against forced Conversion of scheduled caste Hindu girls to Islam.
*The DST has made campaigns to make the Scheduled Caste Hindu community to put their religion as Scheduled Caste Hindus rather than just Hindus in the Census.
* DST members has contesting elections under the DST banner.

Politics

During the formation of the DST, Chander Kolhi, the leader of Progressive Human Front said that the DST will take shape of a Dalit political party in Pakistan. In the 2018 Pakistan General Election, five members of DST including 3 women contesting General elections under the DST banner.

See also

* Hinduism in Pakistan

References

{{Hinduism in Pakistan
Hindu organisations based in Pakistan
Dalit politics