The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) was founded in 1985 by a group of activists and academics interested in advancing the rights of India’s scheduled castes or Dalits — a population who for caste related reasons continues to have little or no access to basic services and to live in conditions of extreme poverty and marginalization. The NCDHR’s initial work was amongst agricultural workers and landless laborers in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Over the past 20 years the NCDHR has expanded its work to several districts of this state. As part of the Partnership Initiative, the NCDHR has been working on Union and State budgets, specifically focusing on reclaiming the Special Component Plan on Dalit populations. Through this project, the NCDHR intends to undertake state budget research and analysis and engage in advocacy at the state level. In addition, it seeks to monitor budgets at the district level and strengthen the capacities of the community to engage with policies and budgets. Read NCDHR’s Profile