By Robancy A Helen
New Delhi, May 14, 2019: Restoration of equal rights to the Dalit Christians is mandatory, says Father Z. Devasagayaraj, national secretary for Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), Office for Dalits and Backward Classes during a book release at CBCI Centre, here May 13.

It has been a trend among the youth of India to oppose reservation for the Dalit Christians. Because they think all must be given reservation on the basis of merits but the Dalit Christians are not even having the reservation in education and employment like others, he said.

The Dalit Christians and Muslims need reservation because of they are socially, politically and economically discriminated, the priest said.

Advocate Tehmina Arora, director of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) India, a legal firm, released the book on Scheduled Caste status to the Dalit Christians.

“Out of total Christian population in the country, 70% are Dalits. It is sad to note that these people are still discriminated in the name of caste. We should always find ways to empower them socially and politically,” she said.

Arora is one of the founding members of ADF India. She worked tirelessly during the Kandhamal riots in 2008. She and her team rendered legal service to the affected people of Kandhamal through the law firm (ADF) as they sought for justice.

“We need to educate Dalit Christian children. It is not a favour that we do to the Dalits. They are our sisters and brothers in Christ and it is our responsibility that they get their equal rights. The church must do what it can, to raise their dignity and rights,” said Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of CBCI in his address.

The book is a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ type which will help society to understand why Dalit Christians and Muslims need reservation in employment and educational institutes.

The book is the reprint which was released in 1996 by Father S. Lourduswamy, former executive secretary of CBCI SC/ST/BC Commission.

The book was written by Brother Jose Daniel, Dr. James Massey and Bishop Michael Augustine. There were different organizations and individuals actively involved to bring forth book then.

Demanding Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians has been one of the longest struggles in Independent India. The struggle is for the Human Right of Religious freedom of Dalits in the minority communities and also for the religious freedom of Dalit Hindus.

Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin demand that they be given social welfare benefits meant for the uplift of Dalit people. Both communities have been denied these benefits since 1950 because the government says their religions do not follow the ancient Hindu-caste system.

The 1950 presidential order said only Dalit people of the Hindu religion can enjoy constitutional benefits such as reservations in government jobs, education institutions and financial help with studies. The order was amended twice to include Sikhs in 1956 and Buddhists in 1990.

Both Buddhism and Sikhism also do not approve of the caste system, but they were included after the government accepted their argument that a mere change of religion does not change a person’s socio-economic situation.

By denying the Scheduled Caste status, there would not be any Dalit Christians in the official record of the Church within 20 years. By having this law, the government is just pressurizing the people to come to the major religion of Hinduism. It is a religious allurement which is done by the state, said Advocate Franklin Caesar Thomas.

“Political disempowerment is not a part of our campaign. It must be included in our demand of reservation to the Dalit Christians,” said Dr. John Dayal, a senior journalist.

Ramesh Nathan, general secretary, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, also spoke for the need to have the reservation to Dalit Christians who are involved in the legal battle.

The CBCI, National Council of Churches in India and National Council of Dalit Christians will continue to work together to achieve the goal, said Fr. Abram Mathew, NCCI executive secretary for Policy, Governance and Public Witness.

Advocates, social activists and leaders from different organizations participated in the book release.

The CBCI Office for Dalits and Backward Classes organized the program.