A. Anbudass Honoured with AICU Civic Award

By Robancy A. Helen, India

The All-India Catholic Union (AICU), the oldest Catholic laity organization in South and Southeast Asia, has conferred its Civic Award on A. Anbudass, a Congress politician from Tamil Nadu, in recognition of his 42 years of selfless service to the upliftment of Dalit Christians and his commitment to social justice.

For more than four decades, Anbudass has worked consistently for the welfare and advancement of Dalit Christian communities, particularly by helping people access government welfare schemes, education and employment opportunities.

In 2012, during the Tamil Nadu State-level Election of Dalit Christian Local Body Representatives, held at the Cathedral Office in Mylapore, Chennai, Anbudass was elected State President of Tamil Nadu. During his tenure from 2012 to 2017, he played an active role in addressing the concerns of Dalit Christian local-body representatives and promoting the welfare of Dalit communities.

One of his significant contributions was facilitating access to various government welfare schemes. Working through local-body representatives, he helped ensure that Dalit communities were better informed about and able to benefit from welfare programmes intended for their social and economic development.

Anbudass has also served as a mentor and guide to many young Dalit men and women. He encouraged them to pursue higher education and assisted them in seeking employment opportunities, enabling many to improve their social and economic circumstances.

His approach to public service has been rooted not merely in political representation but in direct engagement with the needs of marginalised communities. His long-standing commitment reflects a belief that genuine public service must create opportunities for people to live with dignity and equality.

The AICU Civic Award recognises Anbudass’s sustained contribution to the welfare of Dalit Christians and his commitment to empowering disadvantaged communities.

His more than four decades of service stand as a testimony to his dedication to social justice and public life. The award is therefore not only a recognition of his individual contribution but also an acknowledgement of the importance of continued advocacy for the dignity, rights and development of Dalit Christians.

Anbudass’s spirit of service and concern for Dalit communities remain worthy of appreciation and recognition.