With an aim to bring in more Christians and Dalits into social mainstream in India, the church leaders have endorsed a government plan to offer free coaching to religious minority students to equip them train for civil service entry exams.
Sr Anastasia Gill, a member of the Delhi Minorities Commission, said the move is hopeful, and it is an opportunity for religious minorities to become part of country's elite network of bureaucrats, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
The civil service examinations have been one of the toughest exams in the country, and its coaching classes provided by private institutes cost 30,000 to 2,00,000 rupees per year.
Gill said if the new development is implemented correctly, it would benefit the poor Christian aspirants from indigenous groups and the disadvantaged Dalit community.
Federal minister for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi asked the Muslims and Christians to empower themselves with this special opportunity.
The representation of Christians and Muslims in the bureaucracy and police force is relatively low in proportionate with their population.
Last year, a Dalit commission offered help of 10,000 rupees to civil service exam students of Dalit origin to buy study materials.
"But so far only one student has approached us," said Fr Z. Devasagaya Raj, secretary of the Indian bishops' office for indigenous and Dalit people.
It was noted by a Christian leader that many Christians don't try and make the best of these opportunities.
Raj said that he will encourage more Christians to apply for free coaching, according to UCA News.com.
