By Jesuraj Rayappan SVD
Bolangir: About 150 chosen men and women from six Catholic parishes of western Odisha of the diocese of Sambalpur came together on April 7 to reflect on the theme “Dalit Empowerment in Western Odisha: An Ethical Imperative” in Bolangir, Odisha, Eastern India.
It is an ongoing effort of Bishop Niranjan Sualsingh of Sambalpur to bring to the knowledge of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Dalit Policy to the people of his diocese.
India’s Dalits — once known as untouchables — about 250 million strong (almost 20 percent of India’s population suffer socially, educationally, politically and culturally. Country’s historically disadvantaged Dalit community continue to face many types of violence and inhuman actions which are perpetrated upon them by the upper castes and others. In many places, Dalit school children are forced to sit separately during lunchtime. And when it rains, Dalits are not supposed to use an umbrella in upper caste neighborhoods.
They are demanding for a longstanding system of affirmative action for the lower castes. Dalit discrimination is not gently entombed in the past. In many parts of India, people still follow caste taboos, and often violently.
According to a study conducted by Sakshi- Human Rights Watch, there are above 100 forms of untouchability and discrimination on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is prevailing. These all are the gross violation of human rights and also a violation of laws of the land.
Recently, after having reflected at length in Khristo Jyoti Mohavidyaloyo (KJM, Odisha Regional Theology Seminary), Sambalpur and Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, for which there were some experts who were instrumental in developing the national policy, the bishop thought that the policy needs to be explained to the people.
As a first step seminar was organized to some chosen representatives from the parishes with the hope that they might share their knowledge and experience with the rest of the community.
The first session began with the keynote address on the theme, “Preferential option for the poor and marginalized; Jesus’ Mission to the outcastes.”
Dr. Rabindra Kumar Ranasingh, the new principal of KJM, guided to people to reflect on the preferential option of God in favour of Dalits.
“God took the call of Moses from Old Testament and the programmatic summary of Jesus presented in Luke 4 to develop the idea that God is on the side of Dalits. God listens to the cry of poor and He means to do something. God sent Moses to liberate them. He continues to do the same even today by sending His messengers, priests and religious,” said Ranasingh.
While presenting the overall concern of the Church found in the National Dalit Policy, Father Ajay Kumar Singh, director, Odisha Forum for Social Action, reiterated the commitment of the church in obtaining liberation and justice for the Dalits.
“It is our duty as members of the church to implement the policy as a remedial action for the unfortunate people,” said Singh.
Bishop Sualsingh invited the participants to come out of the secluded and timid self in order to be persons who are capable of performing some affirmative action in favour of the Dalits.
He then invited the participants to discuss two questions that will help to be aware of their oppressed conditions and take up some remedial measures.
The different groups discussed the discrimination that exist in society under various forms. The focus was on various discrimination faced by dalits. They had also discussed the deprivation and denial of their rights as human beings. Some of them mentioned that the school children are to sit on the floor while the non-dalits and high caste children sat on benches. They are given food in separate places. They are deprived of scholarships given by the government. They are deprived of all privileges given to their counterparts, i.e. Hindu dalits.
In this scenario they would like that the resources of the church may be used for them, like no denial of admission to dalit children in institutions run by the Catholic church; that the Christian dalits may avail some financial help; Christian dalits may be appointed to teaching and non-teaching posts in church-run institutions.
Before the final reflection of the bishop, some representatives from different groups were asked to speak their minds regarding struggles to obtain the rights and dignity.
After summarising the day’s programme, the bishop emphasized the necessity to be rooted in Christ and the need to imitate Christ, who hated evil so that the human beings may become fully alive.