Christian leaders welcome compensation for damaged Churches

Church leaders welcomed the announcement of compensation packages for places of worship damaged in the recent Orissa violence.

The state government last month said large places of worship and religious institutions that had been completely destroyed would receive compensation of 200,000 rupees (US$4000), while partially damaged buildings would receive half that amount.

Those worship places smaller in size would receive 50,000 rupees and those that had been partially damaged would receive between 10,000 and 20,000 rupees.

National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) General Secretary, DK Sahu welcomed the proposal and said, "We hope reconstruction and relief works can be now fastened by the government. It is the only hope for the victims of the violence."

"It is unfair that Christians in the state could not celebrate Christmas in 2007 and now the same in 2008," he told Christian Today adding, "If at least fewer churches can be repaired, it would be of great joy to the Christians."

Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Bhubaneswar said, "We are certainly happy about this (compensation)." The Archbishop had earlier in a petition to the Apex court sought for Rs. 30 million as compensation to re-build Churches. To this, the govt. said monetary compensation to any religious institution was against its secular policy.

The violence which killed over 100 and rendered thousands homeless have been termed as the largest ever on Christians in India.

Hindu mobs burnt over 300 churches and threatened Christians to reconvert to Hinduism. According to trusted sources, over 20,000 people are living in government run relief camps, while several hundreds are still hiding in forests.