For centuries Dalits in India have faced social ostracism of a most disconcerting kind. The term ‘Dalit’ itself means to be ‘oppressed’ and ‘broken’. However, the phenomenon of recognizing Dalits as a group has demographic origins, the examples of which are India’s first three national censuses.

As a group they are yet to find reprieve in the modernism of the 21st century and while India heralds an era of economic eminence, -- Dalits of which 1/5th inhabit Uttar Pradesh alone, continue to face discrimination and injustice from birth.

Even today, 800,000 Dalits have no choice but to pursue age old demeaning occupations such as manual scavenging. If being humiliated and dehumanized daily were not enough, they face atrocities from uppercastes in villages and cities. Alarmingly, the nature of these atrocities has not changed since centuries. Their households and neighborhoods lack basic amenities.

To narrow this gap, an educated, empowered and passionate breed of young Dalit leaders is ready to change their environment and circumstances. In such grave circumstances, Dalit leadership is now emerging in the districts of Uttar Pradesh. Organizing and directing these voices and persons who seek improvement within, has been made possible by gathering information on individual organizations and their chief functionaries. A list of Dalit headed NGOs which has been compiled district wise is given below. Profiles of each organization and their functionaries will be available soon.