As the name suggests, Dalit and Tribal Unit of the Institute works on issues confronting the rights and well-being of dalits and tribal communities across the country. The Unit's work has a lot of diversity. While researching the issues at the grassroots, the Unit makes every attempt to inform the policy makers of the problems of these communities. Through our research projects, we not only study issues and problems and bring them to the fore, we also suggest possible solutions. The larger objective is not to raise issues but to ultimately help the communities lead a dignified life. With such concerns in sight, the Unit took up a big project on 'conflict and peace' to help the communities understand and address the problem of conflicts and find alternatives to live in peace, equality, prosperity and justice. The Unit organises regular training programmes, workshops etc. to empower the communities. In our efforts, we collaborate and network with like-minded organisations and institutions.

In one of the developments in the work of the Unit, the name of the monthly magazine "Hum Dalit" (We Dalits) was changed to "Haashiye Ki Aawaaz" (The voice of the marginalized) to include the voice of other marginalised people along with dalits. Thus, the monthly, "Haashiye Ki Aawaaz" now carries the voice of other people living on the margins, especially tribals, women and minorities.

In the context of present-day India, where 70 per cent of its one billion population are marginalised groups, the challenge to respond to the issues related to these is daunting and, therefore, the contribution of the Rural & Urban Development Unit assumes great significance.