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Ssc SOCIAL STUDY CIRCLE di (ESTD
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March
30, 2002
A
Short Biennial Report of CBCI Commission for SC/ST/BC
Submitted
to CBCI General Body Meeting
at
Jalandar – March 1 – 8, 2002
A short biennial report (2000-2001) on
the activities of CBCI Commission for SC/ST/BC is presented here for your kind
response and appropriate action.
I.
Animation for Development of Dalits/
tribal
CBCI Commission for SC/ST/BC had
organized several consultations, seminars and conferences for community
development. The objectives of the animation were the formation of committed
leadership, Integrated development of Dalits/ Tribals and brotherhood in the
Church. Our collaboration with other Churches, Dalit movements and other
secular associations has built up unity and solidarity among the people and
churches.
The commission has organized 4 national
seminars and 18 regional seminars in the past two years. The details are given
in the book, “Report of the commission” from page 97-112. We also participated in 42 consultations and
conferences organised by other associations and Movements.
II.
Centre for Dalit Studies (Theology)
The centre for dalit studies (Theology)
was inaugurated. It will be administered by a committee consisting of
inter-confessional leaders.
Proposed Courses: a) CDS foundation
course. b) Correspondence course to the youth in grass root level through
systematic syllabus. c) Advanced Ph.d doctoral programme in collaboration with
theological faculties of Catholic University Nijmegen, Netherlands and Vrije
University Amsterdam (protestant). This is still in the initial stage.
Books published by CDS (T)
1. Introducing Dalit Theology 2. Equal Rights to All Dalits
3. Roots, Concise History of Dalits 4. Towards Dalit Hermeneutics
5. A theology form Dalit perspective 6. Empowerment of Dalit
Christians
III. Dalit Human Rights and
World Conference
World Conference Against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and related Intolerance was held in Durban, South
Africa 1st September - 7th September 2001. We were among 200 delegates of
NCDHRC from India to Durban. We attended Intergovernmental UNO WCAR as
accredited members. While world NGO Forum proposed various programs for
protection and promotion of Dalits UNO WCAR inter government assembly was not
able to adopt the proposed paragraph 73 demanding justice to Dalits in India
due to political pressure and economical problems.
IV. Education for
Employment
Our Commission has been offering
intensive coaching as well as Postal coaching to the candidates from Dalits /
Tribal communities in order to enable them to become social and administrative
leaders.
Number of Candidates trained in the centers
· Residential Coaching - 360
· Postal Coaching - 95
Successful candidates in the exams
· UPSC Civil Services Prelim - 30
· State Public Service Exam -
42
· UPSC Civil Services Main exam - 5
· Bank Probational Officers -
26
· NET / UGC Exam -
11
Jobs acquired by the candidates in the
central and state Government
Group - I Administrative
Jobs Group – II Gezetted officers
Deputy Collectors - 8 Section
Officers - 22
Deputy Superintendent of Police - 4 Lectures - 11
Sub Registrars - 6 Bank
Officers - 26
Even though this programme is partially
successful, there are some hurdles. The sponsors of this programme are willing
to meet only 60% of the expenses of the programme. The rest of 40% has to be
met by the students. But as we know, they are extremely poor and are unable to
pay. Hence some dioceses have contributed for some students. It has been a
great help for this centre. However, if all the dioceses take initiative
through some generous contribution, we can really bring about a social transformation.
Besides each diocese can start a couching centre in view of assisting their
deserving students for job opportunities. The diocesan social service societies
can take up this as one of their priorities.
V. Equal Rights to Dalit
Christians
The delegation met honorable Prime
Minister Shri Vajpayee, Home Minister Shri Advani, other cabinet ministers of
NDA Government and leaders of the parties more than once and appealed to render
Justice to Dalit Christians but the response was not encouraging.
The allies of BJP also refuse to raise
this problem in the NDA meeting and the opposition parties failed to pressurize
the Government due to fear of losing Dalit vote bank. SC/ST MP's forum prevent
the procedure because of the problem of sharing the same quota.
Writ petition in Supreme Court for Equal
Rights
The commission made study on the cases
and consulted legal experts in order to find out the possibilities of filing
writ petition in Supreme Court. A short report is given below. Two Writ Petitioners,
Nos. 9596 of 1983 and 1017 of 1984, were filed in Supreme Court. Both the cases
were dismissed in the judgment read by Justice Pathak on 30 September, 1985.
The important part of the judgment.
"To establish that paragraph 3 of
the Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1950, discriminates against
Christians members of the enumerated castes it must be shown that they suffer
from a comparable depth of social and economic disabilities and cultural and
educational backwardness and similar levels of degradation within the Christian
community necessitating intervention by the State under the provisions of the
Constitution.
The commission and all India Catholic
Union discussed the matter with other legal experts about filing a case for
S.C. rights to SC converts to Christianity. The process of collecting materials
and money is initiated. Either Public interest litigation case or a Writ
petition can be filed on two grounds. 1) Disabilities of Dalit Christian in the
Christian community and society due to the traditional practice of
untouchability. 2. Denial of freedom of conscious and religion to Dalits is
violation of fundamental rights (article no. 25) .
The proposals
emerged from consultations and Seminars are given below for appropriate action
by the Church and the State:
a.
Education for
Empowerment:
Education is
an effective instrument for the empowerment of Dalits/Tribals and weaker
sections. It is abundantly available in the Church. Therefore CBCI and CRI
should make provision for free education up to higher secondary level in the
Catholic educational institutions and a scholarship fund for professional
education to the poor Dalits/Tribals could be established in every diocese.
b.
Equality in
the Community:
The caste
discrimination in the church is the greatest barrier for proclamation of good
news to the poor and the realization of the gospel values of equality and
justice. Our dialogue with the religions and culture will also be hindered by
this sinful practice. Therefore this has to be eradicated with a time bound
plan, making use of the available opportunities such as liturgy, catechism,
proclamation etc. Let that day dawn in our church when we will come openly and proclaim that there is no more caste
system and no more discrimination in Christianity.
c.
Need to of
active SC/ST commission at the diocesan and Regional level.
Even though
the problem of the Dalit/tribal is a burning issue in India as a whole, the
SC/ST commissions do not function in many dioceses. Hence, it is essential that
each diocese should establish as well as activate the commission with financial
assistance. Besides, the regional bishops councils could insist on the
establishment and functioning of the regional level SC/ST commission. This will
enable for a greater collaboration as well as execution in the national level,
towards the empowerment of the marginalized people.
d.
Equal Justice
in the Church:
The Indian
government has provided the reservation and other privileges to the dalits and
tribals in order to bring them to the main stream of society as an expression
of social justice. Therefore it is just
and obligatory on the part of the church in India to give proportionate
representation in sharing the leadership and resources including the priestly,
religious and ecclesiastical hierarchy in the Church according to the size of
the population.
e.
Equal Rights
from Government:
The demand of
fundamental right of freedom of religion and due constitutional rights could be
achieved by our united struggle.
1. Regional
level public march and presentation of memorandum to the heads of the
states
2. An
ecumenical delegation consisting of more than 100 bishops to the prime minister
and
the President of India.
3. One day of
token closure of all our institutions in order to create a public opinion.
4. Prayer and
fasting programme.
5. A writ
Petition in Supreme Court..
F.
The centres for capacity building for the tribals
The tribal
Christians are eligible for reservations facilities. Therefore Caritas and other agencies should
establish centres for capacity building to enable them towards employment
opportunities. Through the programmes of these centres, we can also empower the
people to participate in the leadership of the tribal states especially through
their entry into politics.
f. Rehabilitation to the affected people
The church in
the tribal areas should collaborate with secular movement in the process of
pressurizing the government either to restore the land and properties which
were misappropriated by fraudulent means in the rural to the Tribal community
or to provide just compensation and rehabilitation.
We express our
heartfelt appreciation to all the Bishops, Members CR!, Regional Secretaries
and all the Leaders for their kind cooperation and guidance to the commission
in the implementation of the programs for the empowerment of Dalits, Tribals
and Backward Classes.
Fr.
Lourdusamy
Executive
Secretary
Commission
for SC/ST/BC
Most.
Rev. Dr. A. M. Chinnappa,
Chairman,
Commission
for SC/ST/BC
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