Dalit Christians feasible to be included in SC list

According to a recent report by a secular news (Indian Express), the “Union govt. is likely to include Dalits Christians and Muslims in the Schedules Caste (SC) list.”

Govt. might bring out hasty integration of the Justice Rajinder Sachar committee's recommendations on minority welfare and also might introduce a "sub–quota" for Muslims within the existing 27 percent OBC quota.

Dalit Christians, who were previously awaiting the Supreme Court judgment, were surprised when the SC–referred the case to the Central govt. who is supposed to provide a detailed sketch of the dalit community among Christians.

The decision of the Central govt. should be in accord with the opinion of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the recommendations of R N Mishra Committee.

However, it is clear that the Justice Mishra Commission in its previous report had clearly suggested estranging religion and caste–based reservation.

"A mere change in religion does not bring about a change in the socio–economic status of dalit Christians and Muslims," asserted Mishra Commission.

The commission members Dr Tahir Mahmood, Prof Anil Wilson, Dr Mohinder Singh and Chairman Justice Mishra pointed that exclusion of Dalits from SC list after conversion out of Hinduism "violates constitutional guarantee of non–discrimination on religious grounds."

Dalit Christians in India are anticipating their long–lasted struggle to culminate as the Govt. promotes equality and justice.