The General Assembly of Pennsylvania passes a resolution againt caste

Omni Development Relief Fund (ODRF), an organization started by Dalits settled in USA under the leadership of Mr. Michael Thevar President of ODRF, USA, lobbied the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass a Historic Resolution, resolution number HR 383 condemning the Caste system in India. The resolution was passed unani.mously by the assembly on March 10,2008. The resolution directs the common wealth of Pennsylvania to work with India to find new approaches to this age old problem.
The Resolution’s main sponsor was State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland D-Delaware of the 159 legislative District and supported by James Daley, Thomas, Siptroth, Blackwell, Parker, Galloway, Youngway, Youngblood, Josephs, Cohen, Boback and Clymer.
A RESOLUTION:
Recognizing that more than 160 million people in India are considered untouchable and dehumnized by the caste system.
WHEREAS, The caste system, which dates back more than 2,000 years, divides the population into higher castes which include priests and warriors and lower caste such as laborers; and
WHEREAS , The untouchables’ most basic needs are not fulfilled, and untouchables face great difficulties in accessing employment, education, food and health care; and
WHEREAS , Most untouchables are among the poorest people in the world, living on less than $1 per day; and
WHEREAS, India’s untouchables are relegated to undesirable jobs and live in constant fear of being publicly humiliated, paraded naked, beaten and raped with impunity by upper caste Hindus seeking to keep them in their place; and
WHEREAS, The police, village councils and government officials often support the caste system, which is based on Hindu religious teachings; and
WHEREAS, Many crimes go unreported due to fear of reprisal, police intimidation, inability to pay bribes demanded by police or simply the knowledge that the police will do nothing; and
WHEREAS, At the bottom of the untouchable caste are Dalits; and
WHEREAS, nearly 90% of all poor Indians and 95% of all illiterate Indians are Dalits; and
WHEREAS, Every hour two Dalits are assaulted and every day three women are raped, two Dalits are murdered and two Dalit homes are torched; and
WHEREAS, The caste system, a powerful tool for social segregation, runs deep in the minds of Indians and has implications in everyday life; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, acknowledging that caste-based discrimination is institutionalized throughout India and that its corrosive influence on the Indian people must be effectively addressed, recognize the caste system’s debilitating influence on the daily lives of million in India and encourage the Commonwealth to work with India to find new approaches to this age-old problem.