Telangana Christians demand legislative seats, scholarships from political parties

By Jose Kavi

New Delhi, Oct 15, 2023: Separate parliamentary and legislative seats, land for cemeteries and scholarships are among 20 demands Christian groups in Telangana have put forward to political parties in the southern Indian state.

The Telangana State Federation of Churches, Telangana Council of Churches and Synod of Telangana, representing the entire Christian community in the state, had met in the state capital of Hyderabad early October and decided to ask the parties to include their demands in their manifestos as the state gets ready for the November 30 assembly elections.

The demands are important enough to be added in the manifestos of political parties, said Montfort Brother Varghese Theckanath, who was in a delegation that met Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal in New Delhi on October 12 to hand over the Telangana Christians declarations for political parties.

“We are presenting this to all political leaders,” the brother told Matters India October 14.

Father Raju Alex, deputy secretary of Telugu Catholic Bishops’ Council, told the Deccan Chronicle daily that the Christian community has always lacked the government’s encouragement and support. “The Christian community has a good chunk of voters in Telangana. We will support the parties which stand for us,” he added.

The community wants political parties to give two tickets to Christians for the assembly election and two Member of Legislative Council seats.

“One ministerial berth in the state cabinet reserved for Christians. Four chairpersons’ positions for various corporations to be reserved for Christians. While nominating co-opted members in local bodies, Christians should be considered and proportionately represented,” the community has demanded.

It also wants the parties to ensure that they give Christians one seat each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Christians in Telangana want parties to promise to pass legislation for the sub plan for their minority community. The plan should not be allocated in proportion to the population, but cover education, healthcare, employment, skill development, welfare schemes and burial.

The community wants two minority residential schools for its students entrusted to Christian organisations or missionaries in the field of education in each of the 10 old combined districts.

Another demand is that all educational scholarships should be given before the beginning of the academic year and overseas scholarships given before the student leaves for abroad.

The demands include allotting 5 percent of the weaker section’s housing to eligible Christians, and providing them 600,000 rupees as housing subsidies for those who own plots.

The community wants the parties to revive financial assistance started under ” New Schemes” and release funds to Christians to manage old age homes, orphanages, medical centers, community halls and educational institutions.

The Christian Minority Finance Corporation should consist only of Christians, including its chairperson and board directors.

The community wants a legal cell set up in the corporation, comprising a retired police officer, a lawyer and three Christian members.

The parties should agree to set up a helpline to respond to distress calls from Christians, and to tackle attacks on Christians, priests, pastors, missionaries, nuns and religious persons and encroachment of Christian properties.
The parties should ensure that Dalit Christians get Scheduled Caste status in the state and pursue the matter with the federal government.

The Christian groups want the parties to set up a Skills Development Centre in all district headquarters to train their youth in various skills and create employment opportunities.

They want the parties to involve Christian groups to complete the construction of the Christian Bhavan on the allotted land before Christmas 2024.

Other demands include honorarium for pastors and priests as in the now bifurcated Andhra Pradesh state, provide them health and accidental insurance of 500,000 rupees and subsidy for Christians for Holy Land tour.
3. Subsidy to be given to Christians for Holy Land tour.

The Christian groups want the parties to allot 100 acres within city limits for modern graveyards, 10 acres of burial land to be allotted in all district headquarters and 2 acres of burial land in every mandal. Every cemetery should be provided a hearse for funeral services.

They also want free water and electricity given to churches and cemeteries.

“We hope you will take these important proposals of the Christian community seriously in the interest of justice, so that the needs of this community that makes important contributions in the field of education, health care and social welfare are addressed and their voices are heard in the State of Telangana,” says the Christian groups’ declaration.