India is...80.5% Hindu, 13.4% Muslim, 2.3% Christian.
41% Hindi - most widely spoken language and primary tongue. However, English is the subsidiary official language and most important for national, political and commercial trade and communication.
Democratic
29.8% (2010 est.) are living below the poverty line.
29.8% (2010 est.) are living below the poverty line.
Little Aliya works in a garbage dump on the outskirts of Bangalore collecting things to sell for her family who are living in dire poverty. Her family belong to the lowest Hindu caste, the Untouchables currently known as Dalits. Dalits are less respected than animals. They are believed to be cursed by the Hindu spirits. Hindu scriptures state that Dalits are 'unborn' meaning 'it would be better if they weren't alive'. Despite the governments law to end the discrimination against castes, currently many Dalits are denied basic needs such as medical care and education
Many Indian girls, particularly in the Dalit caste struggle before they are conceived. In India, most parents only want boys and therefore many take ultrasounds to ensure they only give birth to a boy. However, Aliya belonged to a Dalit family who could not afford an ultrasound. Girls like Aliya are perceived as cursed; some Indian people it is because that they led a bad former life and therefore deserve to be shamed in their present life. Aliya suffers from constant abuse and fear, working from sunrise to sunset as a slave in appalling conditions. Aliya has no hope for the future.
"What do you want to be when you grow up Aliya?" There was silence. "The little girl stared."
However, there is hope for some Dalit girls. Asha is eighteen and also lives in a Dalit family. Her father, Moses Swamidas is a Catholic bishop. He does not live in a shanty town and is highly respected by Dalits. He is known as a leader who protects Dalit's rights using the Bible and education as his tools. He has strived to give education to his daughter and other Dalit girls who schools do not accept since 1976. He passionately preaches that ALL men and women, Dalit and high-caste, Indian, American, African and European are created in the image of God.
Bishop Moses Swamidas' 'Bible Faith Mission Academy' blesses special children like Aliya with education which is made possible by sponsors from the West. Today some Dalit children have grown up to become an 'unknown breed' of professional workers and are ever so slowly closing the equality gap between the rich and the poor, the high castes and the Dalits. However, some Dalit children are purposely not taught to speak English but a tribal language. Without knowing English these children will be excluded from becoming professionals. Globalisation, westernisation, computerisation and privatisation are dominating the economy and only allowing the high class compete leaving the poorest to struggle. Therefore not knowing English makes it nearly impossible for them to escape poverty and their caste's bondage.
Maya is one lucky girl who attends school and loves to read and write in English which will make her employable and help her to fight poverty. Going to school also teaches the community to participate on a wider social, economic and political scale, allowing them to make helpful contributions to society. Even the most basic education teaches women to make better decisions for their families.
Maya excited for her future, she hopes to move out of the dump and to read the bible. She is already starting to learn her rights under Indian law so others cannot take advantage of her and her family.
Especially female teachers such as Bishop Moses Swamidas' daughter Asha, teach the children English and bring hope to the Dalit girls for a better future. Now more girls hope to go to university and have dreams to be a voice for the Dalit caste.
Visit Bishop Moses Swamidas' Bible Faith Mission Academy website @
http://www.partnersintl.org/partners/sa/inbf
*girls' names have been changed.
Bishop Moses Swamidas' 'Bible Faith Mission Academy' blesses special children like Aliya with education which is made possible by sponsors from the West. Today some Dalit children have grown up to become an 'unknown breed' of professional workers and are ever so slowly closing the equality gap between the rich and the poor, the high castes and the Dalits. However, some Dalit children are purposely not taught to speak English but a tribal language. Without knowing English these children will be excluded from becoming professionals. Globalisation, westernisation, computerisation and privatisation are dominating the economy and only allowing the high class compete leaving the poorest to struggle. Therefore not knowing English makes it nearly impossible for them to escape poverty and their caste's bondage.
Maya is one lucky girl who attends school and loves to read and write in English which will make her employable and help her to fight poverty. Going to school also teaches the community to participate on a wider social, economic and political scale, allowing them to make helpful contributions to society. Even the most basic education teaches women to make better decisions for their families.
Maya excited for her future, she hopes to move out of the dump and to read the bible. She is already starting to learn her rights under Indian law so others cannot take advantage of her and her family.
Especially female teachers such as Bishop Moses Swamidas' daughter Asha, teach the children English and bring hope to the Dalit girls for a better future. Now more girls hope to go to university and have dreams to be a voice for the Dalit caste.
Visit Bishop Moses Swamidas' Bible Faith Mission Academy website @
http://www.partnersintl.org/partners/sa/inbf
*girls' names have been changed.
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