NEW YORK: The International Dalit-Minorities Conference held July 4-6 in New York, discussed the challenges and opportunities faced by minorities, dalits, and other suppressed classes of India.

The conference, organized by the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI), which also held its XVII North American Annual Convention in conjunction with the conference, was held at Marriott-Long Island in Uniondale, New York. Chairing the conference was Ram Vilas Paswan, India's Minister of Steel and chief of Lok Jan Shakti Party.

"This conference attempts to highlight the problems faced by India's marginalized communities and seek practical solutions," said Ali Qureishi, President of AFMI. "Its main focus is on educational empowerment and social justice." Over 2000 delegates from India, USA, Nepal, UK, Malaysia, the Middle East, and other parts of the world participated in the conference.

Participants included social activists, academics, community leaders, politicians, media activists and professionals from a cross-section of the society.

Dr. Abdul Raheman Nakedar (Trustee of AFMI) from Michigan, renowned academic Dr. K.P. Singh of Washington University, and Dr. Shakir Mukhi (Immediate past president of AFMI) from New York spearheaded the organizing committee of the conference.

In his inaugural address, Paswan, who is also the Chairman of the Dalit and Minorities International Forum (DMIF), said the conference aimed to focus international attention on discrimination based on caste, gender and religion and deliberate on eliminating such societal inequalities. Paswan called for empowering the socially deprived through education and employment.

"Till such time that the minorities do not have self confidence, India cannot progress. We need to facilitate this," he said. Despite the constitutional provision for equal opportunity of development, discriminations against Dalits and Muslims are a reality, Paswan said. Legislation is needed for reservation to deprived classes, he continued.

"If Dalits and Muslims get united, they will lead the politics of India, governments will be theirs, and they will rule the country," he said. Paswan said development and progress of Dalits and Muslims can be only through reservations.

Syed Shahabuddin, a former diplomat, ex-Member of Parliament and a self-styled leader of Indian muslims, said that funds earmarked for the deprived do not percolate to them due to the prevailing bureaucratic set up in India.

"Give money directly to the poor, give them pension as per the per capita pension. It is only then that the scheduled caste, tribe and the Muslims will prosper in our country," he said. Dr A S Nakedar, Trustee of the AFMI stressed the importance of education, which would help increase the socio-economic capital of not only the individuals, but of communities and countries as a whole.

Prof. Mungekar, Member of the Planning Commission, said, "Forty-two per cent of the people in India are still below the poverty line, despite the economic development witnessed by the country in the past sixty years."

He said the minorities got marginalized after the Partition because of the unequal opportunities structure in the country. He also lamented the political parties for not giving adequate reservation to women saying the powerful political class is not ready to surrender their powers to women.

The conference was also addressed by Member of Parliament Ram Das Athawale, member of the Planning Commission Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar, social activist Teesta Setelvad and Tehelka's Tarun Tejpal. Delegations of Sulabh International members and Bhopal Gas victims also participated in the conference.

The revolutionary work by Sulabh International has liberated several Dalits from the humiliating work of human waste disposal. AFMI president A S Nakedar threw light on the aims of the conference and activities of the organization.

Former AFMI president Dr Shakir Mukhi welcomed the guests. Ali Qureshi offered vote of thanks and praised the contribution of Ayub Khan, secretary AFMI, Dr Shahid Ali Khan and coordinator Yusuf Sivji in organizing the convention.