By Matters India Reporter
Kochi: The Catholic Church has welcomed Kerala Chief Minister taking over the portfolio involving minorities’ welfare.
Vijayan is the first chief minister to handle the department since its creation 13 years ago.
The decision not to entrust the portfolio to ministers hailing from the minority community is a political move in the light of criticism from Christians that benefits such as minority scholarships were being appropriated by the Muslim community.
The minority welfare portfolio was handled by K T Jaleel in the last ministry. He had to resign after the Kerala Lok Ayukta found him guilty of nepotism.
The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council hailed the chief minister’s decision to take over the department.
Father Jacob G. Palackapilly, deputy secretary general of the bishops’ council, said: “A large section of the minority community had been demanding that the chief minister should handle the portfolio.”
Formed under General Administration Department in 2008, the department is the nodal agency for implementing both federal and state schemes and projects for religious minority groups.
The Kerala State Minority Commission, Kerala State Minority Development Finance Corporation, Madrassa Teachers Welfare Fund, and Coaching Centre for Minority Youth come under the department. It implements projects and programs for the welfare of Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains and Parsis.
The unexpected move has reportedly displeased the Muslim community. The second Pinarayi Vijayan government with 20 cabinet ministers was sworn in on May 20. The official list of the portfolios of ministers was released on May 21 with the unexpected change.
Manjalamkuzhy Ali, a Muslim minister from the Indian Union Muslim League, had handled the department in the United Democratic Front government that ruled Kerala for five years until 2016.
A few Muslim organizations have expressed their displeasure at the move which they say was to appease the Christian community.
“The Muslim community is a minority. They have faith in me and the LDF government. The Indian Union of Muslim League, who is criticizing this, doesn’t have a monopoly over the community,” the chief minister said in response.
Earlier, the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement had written to their bishop urging them to take adequate steps to press the chief minister to either take over the department or give it to a Christian minister. The youth’s demand was supported by KCBC president Cardinal George Alencherry.
Sreedharan Pillai, current governor of Mizoram and former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala, too said the Kerala Christians had raised “a very important issue.”
According to him, 80 percent of funds for the minority community went to one particular community and Christians got just 20 percent.
Muslims account for 26.56 percent of Kerala’s 33.4 million people and Christians 18.38 percent. Hindus are 54.73 percent.
(With inputs from thehindu.com)