New secretary for CBCI Dalit desk

The Catholic bishops' commission for Tribal and Dalit communities will have a new executive secretary from next week.

Rev Fr G Cosmon Arokiaraj, who led the CBCI Commission for SC/ST/BC, is ending his three-year term of office.

"I am going back to my Diocese of Kumbakonam. Let me express my gratitude to the Catholic Bishops' Conference for giving the opportunity to serve the Church in India," Fr Arokiaraj said on Wednesday.

The priest-activist was at the forefront of several campaigns to demand SC rights to Dalit Christians and Muslims. He also organised and led mass peace rallies demanding justice for millions of Dalit Christians deprived of educational and social benefits.

"The cooperation from my colleagues in the CBCI Centre, the NCCI, the National Council of Dalit Christians, various Muslim organisations, National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights, Vidyajyoti College of Theology and the Archdiocese of Delhi has been a boon and boost for the struggle for equal rights for Dalit Christians and Muslims," said Fr Arokiaraj.

The committed Dalit activist has been given a new assignment to serve as the parish priest and Vicar Forane of Jayankondam in Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu.

Rev Fr Z Devasagayaraj, who is presently the secretary of the Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council Commission for SC/ST, will succeed him for the post from second week of June.