The Dalit people of India are victims of centuries-long, socially-sanctioned bigotry. The Dalits, numbering 250-300 million, are those the Hindu caste system designates as "low" or "backward" caste. Because of their low social standing, affluent parts of society deny Dalits basic human rights. As a result of this discrimination, Dalits suffer socially, economically, and spiritually. Unable to access education, and because of the social stigma of "untouchability", society forces Dalits to take low-paying jobs providing an inadequate income. They cannot afford food, clothing and shelter. They cannot afford medical care. They cannot afford an education. Society denies Dalits human rights and shackles Dalits to a social and religious system that removes personal freedom.

Created in 2002 in the United States, the Dalit Freedom Network's (DFN) mission is to partner with the All India Christian Council to empower Dalits in their quest for social freedom and human dignity by networking human, financial and information resources. DFN seeks to work with individuals, foundations and organizations outside of India to knit together their combined resources on behalf of the individuals, foundations and organizations working for the emancipation of Dalits within India. A movement of this magnitude among India's Dalits requires an intense and lasting effort by many people worldwide to have any lasting effect. DFN is a clearinghouse of information on activities involving the Dalits. DFN has components working in education, medical services and supplies, economic development, and human rights advocacy.

A central office in Denver, Colorado, acts as the hub to connect the people and finances to the areas of need in India. DFN, working in partnership with the All India Christian Council, responds to the requests of the Dalit community. Dalit leaders come together from all parts of India to strategically identify the greatest areas of need. They are primarily requesting high quality English-medium schools for their children.

These leaders recognize that the greatest opportunities in Indian society are offered to those Indians that have been educated in English, as well as their own local dialect. Indefensibly, Dalits rarely have the opportunity to be educated in English-medium schools. As a result, the educational discrepancy between the English-educated high caste and the illiterate Dalits only serves to widen the socio-economic gap between the castes.