Gospel for Asia (FFA) said it welcomed a report of the ‘National Commission for Religious & Linguistic Minorities’ which suggested to the government that Dalits who choose to follow Christianity "continue to endure caste-based discrimination."
The Commission recommended that Dalit Christians, Muslims and other religious minorities receive several affirmative action benefits, including ensuring that that 15 percent of the seats in non-minority institutions would be reserved for the minority Dalits.
If the recommendations are excepted India’s 16 million lowest-caste believers could face a better future, church observers said.
FACING DISCRIMINATION
Over two years ago, the High Court appointed the Commission to research whether Dalits, who left their traditional faiths, mainly Hinduism, "faced discrimination." The report was initially to be submitted after six months, but was repeatedly delayed until being finally presented last week.
"This is a significant and giant step toward justice for the Dalits," said GFA President K.P. Yohannan in a statement. "If the court follows the Commission’s recommendations, it will free many Dalits to choose to follow Christ. They will no longer have to fear losing their rights."
Christian groups have long argued that it is unconstitutional for the government to deny the Christian Dalits the same rights as others. Nearly 65 percent of Christians in India belong to what are known as ‘Scheduled Castes’, including the Dalits, who are often seen as the ‘lowest caste’ in India’s ancient system of Hinduism, according to GFA estimates.
Eurasian tribes that invaded India almost 3,000 years ago are credited with creating the caste system to prevent the melding of their own culture with that of the original inhabitants. Although the caste system was outlawed in 1950, it still maintains a stronghold on almost all of Indian society, GFA said.
"VIRTUAL SLAVERY"
"Men and women born into a Dalit family live in virtual slavery to those in the upper castes. Dalits are expected to perform the most demeaning manual labor jobs, such as cleaning sewers, and are routinely abused and even murdered without consequence," the group added.
GFA leaders in India said they have requested "prayer" of their supporters "that the case will
no longer be delayed, and that the court will give the Christian Dalits the benefits they desperately need.
The Indian Supreme Court is to rule in the case on July 19, after several delays. (With reports from India).
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