Working to overcome poverty, injustice and poor health in India

Rani, Dalit activist

The police refused to take the case because the victim was from the lowest caste

I am from the lowest caste and I work as an activist fighting for better rights for my people. I attend training and regular activists meetings at Arogya Agam (a VST partner) where we discuss our current issues and what we can do about them.

For example, a money lender from a higher caste gave a loan to one of my neighbours. The interest rate was very high, over 60%, and when my neighbour couldn’t pay the instalments he was beaten up very badly. The police refused to take the case because my neighbour was from the lowest caste. Arogya Agam helped us make the police register the case and get the loan cancelled as it is illegal to lend money at such high rates. Since then Arogya Agam has helped us to start self-help groups where we regularly save money and can take loans from each other. This means we no longer have to borrow from the money lenders.

Because we have started to stand-up for ourselves and have gained more self esteem people from higher castes are giving us less trouble. Since I became an activist I have more confidence. I now feel that whatever problems come I can face them.