Govt.’s apathy towards Dalit Christians concerns National United Christian Forum

The National United Christian Forum (NUCF), has echoed the concern of the Indian Prime Minister, (Dr.) Manmohan Singh, who, upset over the Dalit killings in Khairlanji, Maharashtra, and the recent outbreak of violence in Mumbai and Kanpur, recently called for an inter–state council meeting of the Chief Ministers of all states to discuss the issue of Dalit atrocities.

In an agenda sent to all the state Chief Ministers in the 10th inter–state council meeting, December 9, the Prime Minister expressed unhappiness over the crime against Dalits and the administration's "indifference" to them.

Referring to the "deep malaise involving atrocities committed on the most underprivileged segments" of the Indian society, Dr. Singh told the Chief Ministers that the "scourge…demands the formulation and articulation of our Nation's collective will and a determined effort to fight it and root it out of our society without any loss of further time."

"The Prime Minister's statement on the development of minorities and the backward classes comes as a ray of hope for all oppressed and exploited sections of minorities. The Forum welcomes his views that SC/ST and all minorities should have first claim over resources," Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao, president, NUCF, said.

"The recent Sachar panel's report...has confirmed what the Christians of Dalit origin have been repeatedly telling the Government, that the change of religion does not bring about a change in their socio–economic status who live in the Indian society and not exclusively in their own religious communities," said Archbishop Concessao. "Hence they are subject to the same painful and humiliating experiences and injustices that Dalits of other religions do."

"The (National United Christian) Forum…asks the government to explain as to how the same status was restored to the Sikhs and Buddhists but is being continuously denied to the Christians," he said. "The NUCF appeals to the Government not to delay any longer but to act on ensuring the welfare of all such minorities whether they are good vote banks or not."

"As the feast of Christmas is around it would be truly a Christmas Gift if the Government could positively respond to the repeated appeal of Christian Dalits for what is their due. It is hoped that the Government will act in this regard and soon," he concluded.

Caste, a social stratification rooted deep in Hinduism, organizes people by a combination of descent and employment. The lowest group in the caste system is the Dalits.

While atrocities against the Dalits have been practiced for thousands of years, caste–based atrocities are reaching new heights and are causing tension across many areas.

A 1950 Presidential Order excluded Dalit convert to Christianity from the quota system that reserved jobs to members of the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes in the public service. The same exclusion applies to those who convert to Islam but not to those who become Hindu, Buddhist or Sikh.

However, in a significant step, the Supreme Court recently decided to consider afresh the crucial constitutional issue of affirmative action in the public sector for Dalit converts to Christianity, refuting the government plea that it be treated as a legislative problem.

The matter, however, has been adjourned several times and the apex court is expected to take up the hearing again in April 2007.

An estimated 70 percent of India's 26 million Christians belong to the socially discriminated Dalit groups, who need social, educational and economic support to integrate to the mainstream of society.

Recently, various Christian advocacy groups and social activists had staged hunger strike and prayer rallies in Delhi to demand equal rights and justice for the discriminated Dalit Christian community.

The National United Christian Forum (NUCF) is a body comprising Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI); the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI); and the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI).