Udit Raj

Udit Raj
Udit Raj
National Executive Member Bharatiya Janata Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 February 2014
Member of the India Parliament for North West Delhi
Incumbent
Assumed office 16 May 2014
Preceded by	Krishna Tirath
Majority	1,06,802 (7.88%)
Personal details
Born	(1961-01-01) 1 January 1961 Ramnagar, Allahabad district, Uttar Pradesh, India
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse	Seema Raj
Children	1 son 1 daughter
Alma mater	Jawaharlal Nehru University
Profession	Civil servant (Indian Revenue Service), social activist, writer, politician
Website	Udit Raj
As of 22 March, 2014

Dr. Udit Raj is an Indian Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, representing the North-West Delhi constituency. [1] He is also the National Chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations, nationally known as All India Parisangh .He is a social reformer and champions the cause of women. To him, without women’s freedom and choice and their participation in the labor force, no amount of effort is going to take India to the targeted height . Of course, he has always espoused the cause of Dalits, Tribals, OBCs. [2]

Dr. Udit Raj joined the Indian Revenue Service in 1990 as Asstt. Commissioner of Income Tax  and was promoted first as Dy. Commissioner , then Jt. Commissioner and Addl. Commissioner, and resigned in 2003 to float a political party - Indian Justice Party. [4]

Dr. Udit Raj became national chairman of the All India Parisangh in 1997 and a massive protest was launched to save reservation.  It is to be noted that Parisangh is an umbrella organisation of organizations to which most of SC/ST employees in India are directly or indirectly connected . At the peak of its movement, people used to call Dr Raj shadow Prime Minister,seeing his connectivity and influence in all most all govt deptts. Parisangh has units and members in more than 400 districts in the country. This is the only organization in the country to mount pressure on the Govt to make 81st, 82nd and 85th Constitutional amendments. Due to these efforts, five anti- reservation orders were withdrawn.

On 23 February,2014, he joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was elected Member of Parliament of the Lok Sabha in the Indian general elections, 2014 from the North-West Delhi constituency. [6] He has been twice awarded Best Parliamentarian Award by Fame India for consecutive years in 2018 and 2019. [7]

Mr. Ajay Chitnis, MD, Tapasya Productions produced a documentary named “The Crusader” on his struggles as a Dalit Leader and it was bestowed upon the Hon’ble Jury Mention Award in the 7th Bangalore Short Film Festival-2018 [8], 7th Delhi Shorts International Film Festival and 6th Noida International Film Festival – 19.

1. Early Life and Education

Dr. Udit Raj was born in Ram Nagar village of Allahabad district, Uttar Pradesh to a Dalit family of Shri Kallan Singh and Smt. Sukh Dei. After completing his intermediate studies at his native place, he took admission at Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi in 1980. Right from his college days, he has been actively involved in many socio-political activities, which at times also affected his studies. Due to financial constraints, he was forced to divert his attention from social activities. He started preparing for Civil Services Examination thereafter, and cleared the same in 1988, when he was selected for the elite Indian Revenue Service. [1] [9]

Dr. Udit Raj came across many caste prejudices in his life, beginning from his early schooling. He and his brothers confronted caste prejudice in school and in the society. During his college, he was actively involved in the student wing and there he joined the struggle faced by the farmers and labour unions. Later, after moving to Jawaharlal Nehru University, he joined the Students' Federation of India. [9]

During his training at the National Academy of Direct Taxes, he met Seema Bahl. They shared similar ideology and perspective towards life and got married in 1990. Mrs. Seema Raj is presently serving as Principal Commissioner of Income Tax. [1] [9] [10]

Besides M.A and L.L.B degrees, he has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Emmanuel Bible College and Seminary, Kota, Rajasthan. His intellectual acumen is recognized not only in India but at the global level. He has been participating in and holding dialogues at Human Rights Council, the body of UN and other fora and other philanthropist and business organizations. He is a facilitator of Commerce and Trade between India and many other countries. He also holds dialogue with Member of Parliaments and Senators from around the world. Based on his interactions he cited the need for a platform to assist Investors and Businessmen from around the world to invest in India for which he founded Council for Promotion of Trade and Industry (CPTI). The Governor of Chungbuk province of South Korea also appointed him as Honorary Ambassador to promote Korean cosmetics and healthcare in India. He is also a prolific writer and till now, hundreds of his articles have been published in various national newspapers.

2. Social Activist Career

2.1. Formation of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations

In the year 1997, the Department of Personal and Training (DOPT), Govt of India issued five anti-reservation orders. These anti-reservation orders sparked the fire among the SC/ST Employees and unions began mobilizing a national platform where the anti-reservation orders could be confronted. Organizations with different intellectuals and departments from all over the country joined hands and the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations was formed under the leadership of Dr. Udit Raj. He was appointed as its National President. Under his leadership, various campaigns were initiated and demonstrations were held all over the country against anti-reservation orders.

Under the banner of the Confederation, the first rally was held on 26 November,1997, second on 16 November,1998, third on 13 December,1999 and the fourth on 11 December,2000 in Delhi. It was due to his efforts that the Atal Bihari Government passed the 81st, 82nd and 85th Constitutional amendments, which in turn led to the retrieval of reservation benefits. [9] [11]

The Confederation till day holds annual mass rallies to bring forward the issues of Dalits.

2.2 Fight against Land Acquisition

In 2006, when Samajwadi Party acquired land from the farmers and allotted it to Reliance Company, a campaign was started under the leadership of former Prime Minister Shree V.P. Singh for the return of this land. Dr. Udit Raj played a stellar role in the movement, courting arrest against its implementation.

2.3 Reservation for SC/STs in private sector

Carrying the leadership of national mass movement forward, Dr. Udit Raj demanded reservation of jobs for SC/STs in private sector. He also moved a private member Bill in Parliament for reservation to Dalits in private sector [12] [13]

2.4 Protest March to the Supreme Court

The Confederation organised a mass rally at Ramleela Ground in December,2018, raising various issues, including the representation of the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and minority communities in the higher judiciary and the alleged encroachment on legislative and executive roles by the judiciary. Dr. Udit Raj criticised the collegium system of appointing judges in the higher judiciary and raised the issue of representation of SC/ST community members in the high courts and the Supreme Court. He also demanded the scrapping of a Supreme Court mandated monitoring committee for overseeing the sealing drive in Delhi. Dr. Udit Raj along with several members of the Confederation were detained for attempting to lead a protest march to the Supreme Court. [14]

2.5 Buddha Education Foundation

On the principles of Lord Buddha, he established Buddha Education Foundation with an aim to work towards enhancement of socio-economic status of Dalits, Backwards, Minorities, Women and other marginalized entrepreneurs like farmers by providing basic awareness, education and healthcare.

Some key projects implemented by the NGO are:

1. Gender Sensitization training to more than 4000 women in North West Delhi.
2. 2500 women were skilled to make Pickle, Papad and Potato based beverage.
3. 2500 women were given Computer Training.
4. Provided skill training in field of Electrician and Plumbing to more than 100 youth.
5. With co-operation from O.N.G.C. more than 500 women were skill educated.
6. E-village training and waste management training provided through Team Enoctus at Khampur.
7. Conducted sessions on gender sensitization and disaster management and biogas,etc at Khampur.
8. With co-operation from Media Tech ,16 household toilets constructed in Khampur.
9. With co-operation from Rotary Club,24 household toilets are getting constructed in  Jaunti.
10. Constructed more than 40 individual household toilets in Khampur.
11. With co-operation from C.F.I (Australia based NGO) constructed a gate at a cost of $39000 in Jaunti.
12. With co-operation from C.F.I (Australia based NGO),constructed toilets and bathrooms at a cost of $22000 in Jaunti.
13. With grant from the Australian High Commission of $19000, capacity building has been done in association with Ms. Kiran Bedi run Organization.
14. A toilet block for a cluster of about 15 thousand people constructed in Bawana J.J colony with the fund of New Zealand based NGO.
15. 22 Computers and 10 Projectors in government schools of North west Delhi
16. 7  R.O plants and 14 Water Coolers in Government schools of North West Delhi.
17. Beautification of Village Khampur through paintings .
18. With co-operation and grant from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, 1500 disabled persons have been distributed kits in association with Tecnia Institute.

On 10 March ,2019, Buddha Education Foundation organised “Freedom Awards” on International Women’s Day with about 2000 women representatives; and honored the outstanding achievements and contributions of women. [15] [16]

3. Political Career

In 2003, Dr. Udit Raj floated a political party, Indian Justice Party. He formulated annihilation of caste system as the foundational ideology of the party. In 2007,he fielded more than 100 candidates for UP assembly elections. The other top Dalit leaders of the time felt threatened and criticized him. Eventually, claiming it to be his low understanding of the complex political system, on 24 February,2014, he announced merger of his party with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of BJP National President Rajnath Singh. [6]

Dr. Udit Raj joined the Bhartiya Janta Party after he was convinced of its sincere interest in the inclusive growth of all sections of the society,including the welfare of the SC/STs and backward sections, besides upholding the integrity and unity of the nation. [6]

In 2014, he became the Member of Parliament from North West Delhi Parliamentary Constituency,New Delhi. He has raised the maximum questions in the Parliament.He initiated many private member bills in the Parliament with one amongst them being about reservation in private sector.

4. Positions held in Committees of the Government of India [1]

1. He was member of National Integration Council, Government of India.
2. He was member of National Monitoring Committee for Education of SC/STs and PWD, HRD Ministry, Government of India.
3. He is the Chairman of Buddha Education Foundation and Dalit International Foundation.
4. He is the Chairman of All India Confederation of SC and ST Organisations.
5. He is a member of Standing Committee for Social Justice, Government of India.
6. He is a member of Advisory Committee of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
7. He is a member of Land Acquisition Committee.

5. Awards

Dr. Udit Raj won following awards:

1. Best Parliamentarian Award,2019 by Fame India
2. Best Parliamentarian Award,2018 by Fame India

External links

• HAF Appreciates Congressional Hearing on Dalit Rights; Concerned by Biases
• Claims of quota disintegrating society are baseless By Udit Raj
• Opening the safety valve
• Conversion: Ram Raj's rally
• http://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/arvind-kejriwal-udit-raj-dalit-mp-irs-officer-india-tv-exclusive-17825.html
• http://localnews.rediff.com/location#!udit-raj-location-india
• http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-relections-bjp-dalit-vote-sc-category-st-category-aap/1/399831.html