AICC reiterates demand for Sachar type survey for Christians

The All India Christian Council on Tuesday reiterated its demand for a Sachar type survey to assess the socio-economic situation of Christians in India, especially those from the Dalit and tribal communities.

In a letter to the Minister for Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid, the council's Secretary General John Dayal demanded for "collection and collation" of data about Christians through a Prime Minister appointed special committee on the pattern of the Sachar committee for Muslims.

Such a survey if included in the 12th Five Year Plan, will also help identify pockets of want and deprivation in tribal areas, the sea coast and among landless peasantry and agriculture labour, Dayal said.

"We await a genuine study to assess the socio-economic conditions of Christians, specially in tribal areas of central and west India, the 'Cheris' and Dalit Bastis and villages of South India and Punjab, of the fishermen and boatmen along the coast," the Christian leader presented to Khurshid.

The Union minister was also reminded of other suggestions from Christians for the 12th Five Year Plan that included scholarships; construction of hostels for Dalit, tribal and rural Christians; grants for opening minority schools; grants for Bible schools on the pattern of assistance given to Sanskrit schools and madrasas; and assistance to church and laity in setting up NGOs.

Besides suggestions for the 12th Five Year Plan, AICC's letter also put spotlight on the plights of Christians in Kandhamal, which it said remained a "matter of national shame in the denial of justice, rehabilitation and reparations."

"Kandhamal is a blot on the national conscience. Three years after the pogrom against Christians, justice remains a distant dream. Of the 21 murder cases tried in the Fast Track courts, there has not been a single conviction for murder. In one case, there has been a conviction – but for abduction. There is an urgent need for a Centre-State Task Force for Kandhamal, Orissa. State authorities even now seem to be acting as accomplices of the Sangh Parivar," Dayal said.

"More than 56,000 people of over 415 villages were rendered homeless. They escaped death by hiding in the forests for days, and living in government refugee camps for months. Till today, a third of the houses remain un-built. A fourth of the refugees are still not back home, living in slums or in other states out of fear. Rehabilitation, relief and reparations are grossly insufficient, and have not reached all victims."

"Of the more than 5,600 houses destroyed, only 3100 or so are built with additional support of church and NGOs, while another 2500 yet to be built. The Survey List of the Orissa Government for compensation for homes damaged during the Communal Violence 2008 is not accurate," Dayal continued.

Stating that the compensation for damaged houses or churches was grossly inadequate, the AICC leader demanded for immediate intervention with separate packages for recovery and restoration.