Since hundreds of years, crores of people – dalits, poor and backward classes – face caste oppressions in India. Nothing basically changed despite ‘transfer of power’ from British colonizers to Indian ruling classes. Caste barbarity, harassment, oppression and murders of the so-called lower castes continue and caste is a source of dividing common people’s struggling unity. Between 24^th to 30^th September, 2003, our party held a series of programmes in Andhra Pradesh against caste discrimination using the occasion of formation day of ‘Satya Shodhak Samaj’ by Jyothibha Phule.

These programmes held in a large number of towns and villages accross Andhra Pradesh were aimed at generating and heightening consciousness among the people to fight the decadent caste system and to galvanize the people into fighting against it. Programmes elicited good response from the people. We are here reporting some of these programmes though a much larger number of programmes were taken up through length and breadth of Andhra Pradesh.

In Hyderabad, on 28^th September a seminar was held at Marx Bhawan, attended by 150 people. Following the seminar, the following sittings were organized: “Dalit Movement in India” (taken by Dr. B. Vijayabharti, former Director, Telugu Academy), “Impact of Globalization on Dalits” (by Katyayini), “Communist Movement for Eradication of Caste System” (by Com. N. Venugopal, RWA) and “Caste Eradication – Class Struggles” (by Com. G. Diwakar, PCM, APPC of our Party).

In East Godavari District, a meeting was held at Rajamundry on 29^th September followed by an inter-caste community meal. On 24^th September a seminar was held against caste oppression in Kakinada town and on 28^th September, the Sub-Divisional Committee of the Party in Kakinada held a rasta roko for 2 hours at Indrapalem Canal locks. The demand was to ensure protection of dalits at Pyapili village of Kurnool District, and to condemn the social ostracism and expulsion of dalits in the same. The protestors demanded that a case be filed under SC-ST Atrocity Act and a probe be ordered. Rajamundry City Committee also organized a rasta roko at Quarry market centre on the same demands.

A meeting was also held on 29^th September at Cheepurupalli where many villagers of surrounding villages participated. Afterwards 600 people took part in the inter-caste community meal.

In West Godavari District, on 29^th September a meeting was held at Elur town organized by the Party’s Town Committee. Earlier, the Committee held an inter-caste community meal in V.V. Nagar of Elur town.

Meetings against caste oppression was also held at Jellergumilli town, Gouripatnam, Dondapude, Kannapuran town and at Buttaiguddem Mandal headquarters.

Similarly a meeting was held at Vijaynagaram Town in Vijayanagaram District.

In Warangal District, meetings were held at Kesamudram Town on 28^th September, and at Komattagudem (attended by 50 people) on 29^th September.

In Khammam District, meetings were held in Bayyaram Town and in Komararanm (where 500 people participated) and a seminar was held in Yellandu. 300 people participated in an inter-caste community meal at Polaram village followed by a meeting. Another such programme was held at Yellandu with 200 people. On 28^th September, Khammam Division Committee held a seminar on “Ways to Solve the Caste Question”, in which 250 people took part. The Kothagudem Sub-Divisional Committee also held a seminar addressed by the state Secretary of IFTU, Com. S.V. and others.

In Nizamabad District, 200 people took part in a meeting at Dwarkanagar followed by an inter-caste community meal. Meetings were also held at Bodhan town, Navipet town, Rampur village, Machcharla village of Armoor Mandal (in the form of a seminar). The seminar was followed by a inter-caste community meal where 500 people took part. Another seminar, with 200 participants, was held at Hasakothur village, and yet another at Ravutla village of Sirikonda Mandal. 1200 people participated in the inter-caste community meal.

In Adilabad District, meetings were held at Gandhinar village, Beerandi village, K. Bavapur and Sarzapur villages followed by protest marches, group meetings and seminars in Khanapur Mandal. 100 to 400 people participated in each. 800 people took part in a seminar at Khanapur; the participants later held a rally. Rallies and meetings against caste oppression were held at Dhamajipet, Pettarupu, Marsaipet, Natchan Ellapur, Devanigudem and Ambarpet villages of Kadem Mandal. In each around 100 to 200 people took part. A meeting attended by 100 people was held at Manchyrrial town also.150 people participated in a seminar held at Srirampur. Meetings were also held at Mandamari and Nirmal villages.

In Nalgonda District, inter-caste community meals were held at Ramannagudem village (Suryapet Division), Atmakur (S) town, Epur and Kandagatlani villages.

In Kurnool District, a meeting was held at Kurnool town denouncing the anti-dalit threatening moves of upper castes at Pyapili and Belagal villages. A meeting was also held at Nandikotkur town.

In Prakasam District, a seminar was organized on the issue, addressed among others by Com. Chittipatti, member of AP State Committee of the Party. Another seminar was organized in Kavli village of Nellore District.

In Mehboobnagar District, a seminar was held in the same town, and another in a village on 30^th September.

In Vijayawada District, a meeting was held at Sundaraiyya Nagar, addressed, among others, by the POW state vice-President, Com. Rama.

In Karimnagar District, a meeting was held in Inglaspur village. It was followed by a inter-caste community meal. Several such programmes were undertaken in a number of villages.