Jain community may get Minority status soon

The central government is considering a proposal to accord minority status to Jains in addition to Christians and other four existing communities, the Lok Sabha was informed on December 12.

Minority Affairs minister K Rahman Khan said "It is under consideration," in a written reply to a question as to whether government proposes to provide minority status to Jains in the country

Khan said the government has received several representations for giving minority status to Jains.

According to the existing law, five communities - Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and Zoroastrians (Parsis) are notified as minority communities and enjoy the benefits and schemes meant for minorities.

Some states have declared Jains as minority based on religion. They are, namely - Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Uttarakhand.

The Jains have been counted as a separate religious community since the decennial Census was introduced. But they have not been recognized as a religious minority by the same Government which holds, the Census for placing it within the jurisdiction of the National Commission for Minorities.

Jains have long been demanding recognition as a separate religion from Hinduism. They claim that their faith and practices are quite distinct from Hinduism and it is not right for them to be clubbed under Hinduism.