Honoring Dalit History Month Through Action

Adhikaar joined civil rights advocates and community partners in recognizing April as Dalit History Month and advancing a landmark bill to ban caste-based discrimination under New York State law.

Assembly Bill A6920, sponsored by Assemblymember Steven Raga, and Senate Bill S6531, sponsored by Senator James Sanders Jr., aims to protect against caste discrimination across workplaces, housing, and public accommodations in New York.

Even in the United States, caste-based discrimination is a reality that continues to surface within our communities. From the 2020 case against Cisco that brought national attention to workplace discrimination to Seattle becoming the first U.S. city to ban caste discrimination to universities adopting caste protections— change is possible when communities speak out.

Adhikaar’s Senior Organizer, Pabitra Dash, spoke as a member of the Dalit community and shared powerful testimony—including the story of Deepa, an Adhikaar domestic worker member in Queens who faced caste-based discrimination on the job. She underscored the urgent need for this legislation to ensure dignity, safety, and equity for all.

Adhikaar is committed to building a world and future free from caste discrimination.