EU aid efforts and caste discrimination

The European Union is one of the world’s largest donors.  However special precautions are needed when aid is given to caste-affected countries.

In caste-affected countries patterns of exclusion and marginalisation of caste-affected communities continue in development processes and relief efforts. During the August 2008 floods in Bihar in India, many Dalits where stranded on roof tops because the rescue boats would not let them on. In the far Western province of Nepal donors paid for water taps, but two separate water taps were built, so that dominant castes avoid "pollution". Hence, aid efforts in a society dominated by caste divisions can easily lead to "discrimination by default" and thereby perpetuate caste discrimination.

Sometimes, aid efforts even do harm to the situation of Dalits and other caste-affected groups. After the 2004 tsunami, affected fishing communities of a dominant caste in India were rightly assisted, but the Dalit communities that depend on the dominant caste community for work were not. After relief efforts, Dalits lost their main means of sustaining life.   

Caste discrimination in aid efforts is a paradox since caste-affected communities often constitute the poorest of the poor that many aid efforts are carefully designed to help. In fact, caste discrimination is in many instances the root cause of poverty.

As marginalisation of caste-affected groups is founded on structural injustices and denial of basic human rights, it is necessary to address the underlying causes to avoid distorting and/or undermining the impact of aid programmes intended to address poverty and marginalisation.

Failure to overcome the particular development challenges stemming from caste discrimination are linked to a lack of relevant strategies, policy analyses and tools, as well as a lack of involvement of Dalits in development processes and as staff.

Our recommendations to the EU

Since caste discrimination is a predictable outcome when undertaking development and relief efforts in caste affected countries, IDSN urges the EU to develop a framework and operational guidelines for addressing caste discrimination in its activities.

EU institutions, member state governments, relief agencies and NGOs must act proactively to overcome ‘caste blindness’ and confront caste discrimination. If caste barriers in society are not taken into account, development and relief efforts will continue to be caste-biased. Special measures must be applied in development and relief programmes, as well as in other forms of cooperation, to avoid a repetition of the engrained patterns of discrimination against Dalits and their exclusion from development and relief benefits.

In connection with a study on caste discrimination in South Asia, commissioned by the EU, IDSN has developed ten minimum requirements to ensure that caste discrimination is addressed fully in disaster mitigation, relief and rehabilitation asssistance.

> Ten minimum requirements in disaster mitigation, relief and rehabilitation assistance

Studies on caste discrimination in aid efforts

Floods in the Indian state of Bihar in 2007 and 2008
The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) and Dalit Watch documented in 2007 and 2008 respectively the caste discrimination taking place during relief efforts in the wake of the floods.   

Making Things Worse
- Lessons on caste discrimination from post-tsunami relief 
A 2007 report from Dalit Network Netherlands that documents caste discrimination in post-tsunami relief efforts.

IDSN study on caste discrimination in South Asia

The study was commissioned to the International Dalit Solidarity Network by the European Commission in advance of its workshop on Indigenous peoples, minorities and Dalits in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 15-17 June 2009. The study offers perspectives on caste-sensitive human rights and development programming, and proposes minimum requirements for disaster management.