‘WHILE women are facing gender and class oppression, dalit women are additionally facing caste oppression’ said leaders in the Chennai Conference. The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) organised a powerful and significant Conference on the Socio-Economic Rights of Dalit Women in Chennai on September 8, 2026.

The programme began with a rally around the Tambaram Market, where delegates garlanded the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar. While around 500 women delegates were expected, nearly 900 women participated, reflecting TNUEF's extensive grassroots work across Tamil Nadu.

E Mohana Deputy Secretary and Kalaiselvi State Secretary TNUEF presided over the Conference.

Subashini Ali, all India Vice President of DSMM, inaugurated the conference. She said that the movement for the rights of Dalit and Adivasi people has faced some of the most severe challenges in its history during more than a decade of BJP rule at the Centre. She insisted the participants to say loudly that we don’t want NEET Exam. She called upon all oppressed and exploited people to unite and wage a determined struggle against casteism and the Manuvadi policies of the BJP, holding the Red Flag high.

U Vasuki, CPI (M) Polit Bureau Member, delivered the keynote address. She insisted that the struggles of Dalit and Adivasi women are part of working class unity. She emphasised that the problems faced by Dalit and Adivasi women are not their concerns alone, but are questions concerning the nation as a whole, and issues of development and democracy. She further said that the title, “Conference on the Socio-Economic Demands of Dalit and Adivasi Women” was particularly appropriate for the conference. We have not called it merely a “Dalit Women’s Conference.” This reflects our understanding that men and women from all sections of society who stand for democracy and equality are behind these demands and this struggle. She further said that she would also like to place on record that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) would stand with TNUEF in the struggles that lie ahead.

One of the important achievements of the conference was its reach beyond regular organisational and party circles. Nearly 200 participants joined through TNUEF's social media campaigns, including students from IIT, IIM, Stella Maris, Ethiraj and Loyola Colleges, PhD scholars, and advocates from the Madras High Court.

TNUEF also organised an exhibition highlighting the historical role and struggles of Dalit women in Tamil Nadu and the interventions of the CPI(M) and TNUEF on Dalit women's issues. The exhibition was inaugurated by K Swaminathan, all India Deputy Secretary of DSMM.

P Suganthi, State General Secretary TNUEF presented the findings from TNUEF's State-wide survey on the socio-economic status of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women. Covering 371 SC and 10 ST women across Tamil Nadu, the survey examined education, employment, political participation, land rights, health, and violence and caste atrocities. She said due to caste oppression there are many women who lost their husbands in sewer and septic tank deaths.

Ms Sukirtha Rani, Poet and Social Activist said, government should give 1 acre land each to every landless Dalit woman. S K Mahendran, honorary president TNUEF questioned where the fund is earmarked to allocate lands to landless Dalits. Writer V Geetha, while addressing the conference, said that untouchability is not the problem of Dalits but of the caste Hindus. She said we have to take forward the democratisation of society to a next step. Latha, MLA, CPI(M), mentioned that many SC and ST sarpanches are not allowed to sit in their chair and that she and other comrades would echo the voices of Dalit women in the Assembly.

A particularly moving feature of the conference was the felicitation of around 25 survivors and fighters from struggles against caste atrocities, including caste honour killings, sewer deaths and land struggles. TNUEF affirmed that those who fight for justice are not merely victims or survivors, but activists and fighters who are part of the movement. Organisations and leaders who have travelled with TNUEF in the struggle for social justice and the rights of oppressed communities were also honoured. G K Murugan, State Treasurer, moderated the same.

K Samuelraj, all India Vice President of DSMM, delivered the valedictory address and reaffirmed TNUEF's commitment to tirelessly work towards creating a casteless Tamil Nadu.

The South Madras District Committee played an outstanding role in organising and managing the conference. Despite the unexpectedly large turnout, their collective efforts ensured its successful conduct.

We could see the participation of many new women and girls beyond CPI(M)’s circle in the conference, many of whom came through our social media postings. The overwhelming participation of Dalit and non-Dalit women, students, researchers, professionals, activists and people from beyond TNUEF's regular organisational circles gave the conference a wider social and political reach.

T Chellakannu, President TNUEF proposed the resolutions. The conference adopted some important resolutions including the following demanding that the government:

• Enact a comprehensive special law to prevent and punish caste-based honour killings and related crimes, ensure rehabilitation and compensation for victims and their families, protect inter-caste couples, and uphold the right to choose one's life partner.
• Reclaim Panchami lands and provide land titles in the names of landless Dalit women.
• Should begin Sanitary Engineering in higher educational institutions to stop Manual Scavenging in Tamil Nadu.
• Specific focus and targeted schemes for the welfare of Dalit women through Scheduled Caste Sub Plan and Tribal Sub Plan to address the developmental gaps in Education, Health, Employment, Entrepreneurship etc.

The conference marked an important step towards building a broader movement for the social, economic and political rights of Dalit and Adivasi women and for a society based on equality and social justice.