By Augustine Singh

Hyderabad, November 16, 2018: As a follow-up activity earmarked by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Office for Dalits and Backward Classes, a three-day national conference of Dalit priests and Religious took place at Arnold Bhavan, Hyderabad, November 13 – 15.

Above 110 participants different parts of the India joined the program to share, deliberate and strategize so as to empower themselves and their people back in parishes and communities.

The conference focused on “Pilgrimage Extension and Training.”

Several dignitaries addressed and facilitated the members dealing with topics: media and effective pastoral ministry, creative ministries to empower the Dalit community members, and interpersonal relationship.

At the end of the seminar, a few of the participants expressed their satisfaction.

“It was a great opportunity for me to be aware of the Dalit policy of the CBCI and its objectives clearly. I am now doubly motivated to pursue my work among the marginalized people,” said Capuchin Father Amir Jacob Lima from Kandhamal, Odisha.

Fr. Joseph K. from Kerala expressed, “This program helped me and my companion to be inspired and empowered. I wish more awareness programs and activities were conducted in Kerala, that would have aided in the process of development of our Dalit people who are still neglected lot in our state.”

Archbishop Thumma Bala of Hyderabad encouraged the priests, during the inaugural address.

“The CBCI is very much concerned about the problems of the Dalit members of the Church. We like more work done for our people, that they might not be troubled by the past, but move forward with new hope,” he added.

So too the chairperson of the CBCI Office for Dalits and Backward Classes, Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur gave his views in a clear tone saying, “This conference is not to create ghetto mentality in us, but more for sharing our experience and getting enlightened and empowered to be the voice of our people.”

He further said, “It is the occasion for pilgrimage and inspiring each other to live an integrated life which is transparent.”

Dr. Selva, SJ aided the members to think systematically for the development of the Dalit communities in India. According to him, “There should be enough time spent in identifying the real and pertinent issues of different age group and places and chalk out steps for implementation with the help of persons responsible.”

The end result was very hope giving as Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general, CBCI assured, “It has been quite tedious to reach up to this level about the Dalit Policy, but here after it should be rather achievable in the times of implementation, we expect that it receives needed support from the diocesan and religious authorities.”

The participants in their action plan also expected that the policy for Dalit gets implemented in every diocese in the earliest time and that there should be monitoring provision for the same.

Dalits are the so called Untouchables in Indian society. They are discriminated by the following criteria: concept of purity and pollution, no inter-caste marriage, forced occupation and segregation. The stigma of untouchability is what discriminates them from the rest of society. Centuries of discrimination and denial of right to property and education make them poor, illiterate and powerless.

Christians form 28 million or just 2.3 percent of India’s 1.2 billion people but more than 60 percent of them come from Dalit and tribal communities.