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The Dalit Task force of the NCCI Commission on Dalits and Adivasis met in Gurukul, Chennai on 20th February 2007. The meeting appraised the situation in the country with regard to the empowerment of Dalits. The appraisal was done with reference to the work done by members of the Dalit Task Force, and those that were carried out by the NCCI-DTF.
The appraisal and subsequent discussions suggested a course of action as listed below. Programmatic thrusts are being worked out accordingly.
i. Make Inter-faith programmes on Phule and Ambedkar annual programmes of the DTF.
ii. Develop education and skills training programmes to the Dalit youth to eradicate poverty and to become economically independent.
iii. Empowering the pilot congregations for Dalit liberation.
iv. Liaison with the local initiatives like the WIDA, SKM, KGF etc.
v. Providing legal aid for the Dalits during caste atrocities. Training Journalists for the cause of Dalit concerns.
vi. Bringing out a curriculum based training programme for the Dalits.
vii. Lobbying for the cause of Dalits and Dalit Christians.
viii. Consultation with Dalit MP’s, and other Dalit bureaucrats along with Church leaders.
ix. Network with other likeminded agencies working for the cause of Dalit concerns like the Dalit writers groups, folk arts groups, Parivartan, NCDHR, NACDOR etc. bring them together, learn from them and listen to their experiences.
x. Training of 250 Dalit youth in providing self employment training.
xi. To attend the Indian and World Social Forums annually.
xii. Revival of “Drum”, the newsletter of DTF. Renaming it as “Dalit Drum”. Disseminate the news of Dalit atrocities to all the local Pastors.
xiii. It was resolved to appoint four Regional Co-ordinators for the four zones to strengthen the local congregations work for Dalit liberation.
xiv. Resolved to have a page for Dalit Concerns in every issue of NCC Review.
xv. Call for a One-day consultation to prepare the curriculum for the training of Dalits.
xvi. General Consultation on Sunday school nurture to incorporate Dalit issues in the curriculum.
xvii. It was resolved to send a proposal to the Senate of Serampore to make Dalit Theology as a compulsory course in all theological colleges.
xviii. Sharing the Dalit programmes with Adivasi Concerns of NCCI. Continuing with Dalit-Tribal Interface programmes.
xix. Observing Dalit day on the 10th December on the International Human Rights Day.
xx. Workshops to the out-going theological students on Dalit liberation.
xxi. Forming of Dalit theologians Network.
xxii. Regional Leaders be identified and strengthen them in their work for Dalit liberation.
Dr. K. Rajaratnam, Chairperson DTF and NCCI-COD presided over the meeting. Dr. Bennet Benjamin, Prof. Z.C. Devadanam (Treasurer NCCI), Dr. Stanley Williams, Dr. John Mohan Razu, Ms. Esther Kathiroli, Mr. G.P. Cornelius, Rev. U. Gandhi, Rev. Dr. Daniel Prem Kumar, Dr. William Gnanashekaran, and Bishop D. K. Sahu (General Secretary NCCI) attended the meeting.
Rev. Raj Bharat Patta
Executive Secretary, NCCI-COD Dalit Concerns | 
