Dr. Ambedkar Foudation

 

Dr. Ambedkar Foudation

I participated in the March 28 meeting of the General Body of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) held at the monumental and prestigious venue – Dr. Ambedkar International Center (DAIC) at New Delhi. The meeting was presided over by the Ex-officio Chairman of the DAF, Dr. Varindra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. It was my first opportunity to register my attendance at such a meeting as a nominated Member of the DAF. It was a good and firsthand experience to know and understand the work and the functioning of the prestigious and esteemed government outfit established in the name of one of the greatest sons of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar and to promote and carry forward his lofty mission and legacy. Hon’ble Chairman and Minister was ably assisted by the designated senior functionaries of the DAF, Director Manoj Tiwari and the DAIC, Director Akash Patil at the meeting in which Members of the Executive and General Body of the DAF participated with enthusiasm as the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar, an icon of the society at large particularly the weaker and marginalized sections. It provided me an ample opportunity to renew my association and acquaintances with highly placed personalities; Chairman of National Commission for SCs, Kishore Makwana, Dr. Naresh Chauhan, Prof.

Chaman Lal Banga of Himachal Pradesh, Prof Pramod Mehra of IGNOU, Advocate Mohit Bhardwaj, Ms. Heman Sant, Dr. Dinesh Kumar, Jai Bhagwan Kataria of Haryana among others and also made new friends from various states of the country. It was a beneficial and educative exercise. After the exchange of pleasantries and introductions, Director of DAF, Manoj Tiwari steered and carried the agenda of the meeting successfully and answered the resultant queries and observations by the members. Hon’ble Minister provided opportunity to all the participants to speak briefly and listened with patience. Joining the members, I also thanked Hon’ble Chairman and appreciated the good work being done by the DAF under his stewardship and guidance. I took the opportunity to mention about the proposal on April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, to be declared s International Day of Equality under the aegis of UN not only to recognize and honour Dr. B.R. Ambedkar but also to add further imputes to India’s cultural and soft diplomacy. The proposal is resting with the GOI for the last 10 years. I requested the DAF to kindly lend its valuable support to the proposal as appropriate. My detailed submissions at the meeting are appended to this note for kind perusal. Most of members who spoke said that though the DAF was doing well yet it was felt that there was a need to take it to the grassroots for the benefit and advantage of the common man at large. The nominated members should be involved in the functioning of the DAF with a view to provide much need visibility to the DAF, a premier agency pertaining to our icon, Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Hon’ble Minister concluded the meeting with his brief remarks and thanked the DAF and DAIC functionaries and the participating members for arranging the meeting of the esteemed DAF. The DAF, thoughtfully, gave a plaque brass with an inscribed image of the

statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar adorning the central dome of DAIC, as a befitting Memento to the members and also added a copy of the original text of the Constitution of India to the kit of documents provided. Yet another memorable event of the day, after a sumptuous lunch, was going down and has a photo at the feet of the imposing statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

It may be added that Dr. Ambedkar Foundation is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, established to promote the principles of social justice, equality, and empowerment advocated by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, a prominent social reformer and architect of the Indian Constitution. The following programmes/plans in this regard have been mandated to the DAF:-

·      Dr. Ambedkar Medical Aid Scheme

·      Dr. Ambedkar Study Chairs in Universities

·      Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for celebration of birth/death anniversaries of Great Saints

·      Dr. Ambedkar Foundation National Essay Competition Scheme

·      Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Awards for Secondary and Senior Secondary students

·      Scheme to Encourage and support to inter-caste marriages

Appendix –

 Some suggestions for the consideration of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation – Meeting of March 28, 2026

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1. Resolution for supporting the proposal on declaring April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality under the aegis of the UN – The is resting with the GOI (MEA/PMO) since June, 2015. We have been following up the proposal regularly since then. My last blogs on the subject which will give some more information on the issue may be accessed at: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2025/08/international-day-of-equality-honouring.html

2. Set of Volumes of Dr. Ambedkar’s Selected Works (Books) to be given to the Nominated Members of the DAF for presentations – All the Nominated Members of the DAF may be given 5 sets of Volumes of Dr. Ambedkar’s Works (Books) published by the GOI. The Members may present these books to the Colleges or Libraries of other prominent institutions of the area. It would tend to provide some much needed acceptance and recognition of the DAF and the Member on one hand and on the other would benefit the public about the legacy of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

3. Celebration of the Constitution Day in all the State capitals under the aegis of DAF – Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was the chief architect of the Constitution of India. His contribution in building the nation of India is unparalleled. GOI has, very thoughtfully, decided to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Constitution Day throughout the year and rightly so. DAF shall not lag behind in joining the celebrations n this regard. DAF should provide for a grant of Rs.5, 00,000/- to each State to celebrate and observe the Day in a befitting manner. The Nominated Members of the DAF should be associated with these celebrations. With this DAF would get better image in the public, to my mind.

4. Resolution to urge and request the GOI and other concerned agencies to include the last speech of Dr. Ambedkar delivered in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949 in the University/College Curriculum – DAF may pass a Resolution to include the last speech of Dr.Ambedkar made in the Constituent Assembly in the university curriculum for the benefit of the younger generations. There could not be two opinions on the fact that it is one of the best speeches ever made in make India that is Bharat the lad of our dreams. It is as relevant today as it was in 1949.

5. Financial support to Ambedkar Bhawans in all districts of India - It has been observed that Amedkar Bhawans, generally, are undergoing financial hardships as the followers of Ambedkar are mostly poor and weak financially. These Bhawans are doing good job in keeping the legacy of the leader alive and functional. DAF may consider supporting them with financial grants to strengthen and streamline their functioning. This gesture would go a long way in providing much needed visibility to the functioning of the DAF and provide a handle to the Nominated Members of the DAF in their respective areas.

6. Inter-caste Marriages – Encouragement and support including employment to the SC partner