CBCI leads weeklong prayer for equal rights of Dalit Christians

New Delhi – The Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Classes Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) led the Christian community of the nation in a weeklong prayer from August 21–28 to obtain equal rights for Dalit Christians.

According to Archbishop M. Chinnappa, the chairperson of the Commission, the purpose of the prayer was to petition to God for a “favorable judgment” in the matter that the Supreme Court has taken up.

The archbishop has also urged the Christian community to petition to the Government for “an amendment of the discriminatory Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950.”

Of India’s approximately 2.5 crore (25 million) Christians, an estimated 70 per cent are from the Dalit background. The existing legislation denies affirmative action and special rights to many people of former untouchable castes, including Dalit Christians, on religious grounds. Protection of the Law and many privileges that are available to Dalits of Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faith are denied to their brothers and sisters who have adopted Christian or other faiths.

Earlier on July 18, representatives of the Dalit Christian community presented their grievances before a Public Tribunal headed by Supreme Court of India retired Justice SB Sawant and famed Jurist Barrister Sona Khan.

The Tribunal heard cases on the human dignity and constitutional rights of the 1.75 crore Dalit Christians of India.

As many as 573 witnesses from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Pondicherry registered at the public hearing. Hundreds of others came to see the proceedings.

“It is necessary that the Christian Dalits are given the same benefits aids and advantages, facilities and opportunities as are given to Dalits of Hindus, Sikhs and Neo Buddhists on the basis of caste to which they belong before conversion and which they are carrying even today,” the Tribunal concluded after hearing cases of atrocities that were being perpetrated against the Dalit Christians over the decades.

“Hopefully, God who hears the cry of the poor, will open the eyes of those leaders who can help the most neglected of our society," said Fr. Philemon Raj, executive secretary of the CBCI Commission for SC, ST & SC, deeply saddened by the plight of all Dalits and more specially of Dalit Christians.