Free meal scheme in Tamil Nadu churches stirs controversy

Chennai – The ‘Annadanam,’ or providing free meals, a popular Hindu practice in South India has stirred a controversy when the proposal of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa to extend the free meal scheme in 88 churches on Christmas Day did not go down well with some members of the Catholic clergy.

Tamil Nadu has a long tradition of providing free meal at various places of worship including temples, Sufi shrines and churches.

Since 2001, Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha's tenure has been marked by numerous schemes to provide free meals in temples. Usually, the state provides the money for the free food and now the scheme is prevalent in more than 1,000 temples.

However, the Chief Minister’s latest proposal has been strongly opposed by two senior members of the Catholic clergy, viz., Archbishop Peter Fernando of Madurai Archdiocese and president of the Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council, and Archbishop M. Chinappa of Chennai–Mylapore Archdiocese, on the ground that "Christianity never believed in providing free food round the year, though mass feeding was organized on particular occasions."

According to the archbishops, providing free meal in catholic churches "might create a split among the community" and that "there were practical difficulties in selecting churches and beneficiaries for the scheme."

Besides, they feared that regular practice of ‘Annadanam’ in churches might also lead to governmental interference in church affairs later.

Instead of extending the ‘Annadanam’ scheme to Catholic churches, it would be better if the government provided rice and other essential commodities at subsidized rates to church–run orphanages, homes for the aged and disabled and students' hostels, they suggested adding that "Even if the poor were to be fed, it should be done only from the offerings of the devotees."

Traditionally in Tamil Nadu, the practice of ‘Annadanam’ was started when the poor used to be fed in temples by kings and feudal landlords. By popular practice, it became a custom to feed in temples, not only the poor, but anyone who entered its portals.

To sit in a 'charity meal' is seen in Tamil Nadu as taking part in a holy ritual of charity. The practice cuts across religion and many mosques and Protestant and Catholic churches in India now provide free meals to devotees, especially during festival times.