DALIT VOICE

Mainstream media is often found to under-represent the interests of people in the margins of society such as the dalits in India who are outcaste. In this context, the lack of channels and inability to communicate their own concerns and bring to the fore their experiences of discrimination, has led to ignorance, unaddressed issues of inequality, inaccessibility to basic services, neglect, denial of rights and exclusion from the processes of decision-making and policy-making. The emerging consciousness about importance of Information and Communications Technology in the exploration of alternative media to create communication spaces can lead to the creation of pathways to digital frontiers that provide solutions towards affirmation of communication rights and implementation of inclusion concepts.

This program, conceptualized and initiated by the Commission on Communications and Relations of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI - COCR), Christian Service Agency (CSA) and World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), includes the website dalitvoice.in and the mobile application dalitvoice. The program highlights dalit concerns and is expected to lead towards empowerment of dalit communities using the communication space and pathway rendered by the development of this application.

For voices to be effectively heard and heeded, access and ownership of both media and message must be enabled. The concept of Citizen Journalism, takes seriously the responsibility and privilege of enabling information sharing in a way that opens up possibilities through self-advocacy for wider public engagement.

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Development & Support
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Rev. Caesar J. David (Executive Secretary, NCCI Communications);
Ms. Neelam Gaikwad (Program Assistant, NCCI Communications).