VOICE OF DALIT INTERNATIONAL

NETWORKING:- 2000

All the new comers to Grimsby formed themselves into a team and started networking with individuals, church groups community groups etc. Those community and church groups who were once reluctant to accept the existence of Dalits now started accepting the fact on the strength of witnessing by the new arrivals. One generous couple Dr. & Mrs. Sarkar allowed the team to stay in one of their houses for one year, thereby giving us a contribution equalling to £5000/-. Other individuals and community groups also started to respond to the witnessing of the Team members, by providing clothing, food, furniture for the house etc. The team continued their interactions in the community. This attracted the attention of the Grimsby Evening Standard. On July 7th 2000 it reported the existence of the Exposure Training Programme in Grimsby for Dalit leaders and future leaders from South Asia with the title "Charity plays host to Indian Guests". We hoped to have a full-fledged Training institute in Grimsby. Meanwhile we also came in contact with an initiative called International Dalit Solidarity Network/Dalit Solidarity Network–UK. Click Networking.

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EXPOSURE TRAINING PROGRAMME:- 1999

The unwillingness of the local community to accept the existence of Dalits, made things very difficult for the initial Trustees to take the work forward. So we decided to have the presence of a few Dalit leaders and future leaders amidst the communities in the UK. The idea was to provide witness to the situation of Dalits in India/ South Asia as well as to learn the democratic and international mechanisms. Accordingly, we invited four persons from India. Along with them, we have also invited Mr. V.J.  George, as one of the Trustee of the Charity.

The candidates were given orientation by Mr. George. However when the visa applications were filed, it was difficult for the candidates to get their visa. The visa officer offered to provide visa only to Mr. George, as the Trustee. But was unwilling to allow others to travel to UK. Upon this Mr. George refused to accept his visa and insisted that he would accept his visa only if the activists were also given permission to visit UK. After a couple of days, the officer consented to issue visas to all the applicants, who then came to Grimsby in two batches – first George in October and others in November 1999, thus giving birth to the first Programme of VODI – Exposure Training Programme. (Later this developed into a regular Dalit Development Course)-for more information click "Dalit Development course".