Socio-Economic and Educational Status of
Scheduled Caste Origin Christians of North West India

By Mr. M. Madhu Chandra
Human Rights Activist,
Email: finicy@gmail.com

Introduction:

This short summary on Socio-Economic and Educational Status of Scheduled Caste Origin Christians of North West India is prepared for the purpose of submitting to National Commission of Religious and Linguistic Minority (NCRLM), known as Justice Misra Commission headed by Justine Ranganath Misra as Commission Chairman. Supreme Court of India has asked NCRLM to give its opinion about granting Scheduled Caste status to Scheduled Caste origins converted to Christians.

This summary is also attempted to clarify the incorrect, bias, irrelevant Data presented by Centre for Research, Planning and Actions (CERPA) during one day workshop organized by CERPA on Social-Economic and Educational Status of Christians on August 10, 2006 at India International Centre, New Delhi.

Solid and reliable national data on socio-economic and educational status of scheduled caste origins converted to Christians is not available, which can be presented to Justice Misra Commission. However, mosaic forms of data on socio-economic and educational status of scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity is available.

This summary is to proof that scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity remains the same socio-economic and educational backwardness. They are known socially by their caste names, suffer social injustice just as they suffer before their conversion to Christianity. The data presented below is the reference to the work of Vidya Sagar J. Dogar’s work on Rural Christian Community in North West India in 2001 under initiation of The Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, New Delhi[1]

To study the socio-economic and educational status of scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity, Mr. Dogar selected sample population of 3869[2] individuals from 750 families who are from 550 rural families of Punjab, 100 rural families of Haryana, 50 rural families of Himachal Pradesh and 50 rural families of Jammu and Kashmir from 80 villages from 15 districts from above mentioned 4 North Western states of India.[3] The sample collected by Dogar is academically acceptable and credential.

1. Background History of the Demand of Scheduled Caste Status of Scheduled Caste Origins Converted to Christianity

In the framing of Indian Constitution, Para 3 of Article 341 denies scheduled caste status to any scheduled caste belonging to other faith and religion different from Hinduism. Scheduled caste Sikhs after four years of struggle got back the scheduled caste status in 1956 when Para 3 of Article 341 was amended by including scheduled caste origins converted to Sikhism. Scheduled caste origins converted to Buddhism also got after forty years of denial and struggle in 1990 when Para 3 of Article 341 was second time amended by including scheduled caste origins converted to Buddhism.

Scheduled caste origins converted to any other faith and religions different from Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism, have been denied their birth, fundamental and constitutional rights of scheduled caste citizens.

Scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity have been denied their birth and constitutional rights for last 60 years. After repeated assurance given from political and commission after commissions’ recommendation to include scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity, finally it has come to knock the door of Indian justice system. Now Indian justice system has setup Justice Misra Commission and asked Commission to give the opinion on granting scheduled caste status to scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity. 17.5 millions Scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity have looked up to Justice Misra Commission to render the justice that has been denied for last 60 years.

2. Scheduled Caste Origin Christian representations in North West Indian Population

Total Christian population in four states of North West India (Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir) represents only 3,47,977 according 2001 census of India. In breaking them up, Punjab has 2,92,800, Haryana 27,185, Jammu Kashmir 20,299 and Himachal Pradesh 7,687.[4]

Mr. Dogar’s finding of Christians in four north western states reveals 95% of them are from Scheduled caste origins, which is in figure 3,30,572. Dogar says, “Thus about 95 percent of these conversions are recorded to be from the lower castes of the Indian society, which are now addressed as Dalits.”[5]

Dogar’s finding from sample population collected for study reveals that 17.43% of Scheduled Caste origin Christians are from fifth generation, 67.71% from fourth generation, 8% from third generation, 4.43% from second generation and only 2.43% from first generation.[6] The presence of 2.43% of first generation Christian suggests new converts.

3. Employment and Economic Status of Scheduled Caste Origin Christians in North West India

The general occupation of Scheduled caste communities in India is the labor class community. So is the same even after their conversion to any other religion particularly to Christianity. Employment Pattern is related to the economical status of Scheduled Caste Origin Christians.

3.1. Employment Status

30.16% of Scheduled caste origin Christians is employed in labor class. The labor employment is classified into two patterns: One – 72.41% employed as laborers and two – 27.59% in other occupations and jobs.[7]

Labor Patterns of Scheduled Caste Origins Christians

Sr. Labor Patterns Percentage
1. Seasonal farm labors 14.08%
2. Night soil labors 11.48%
3. Bonded labors 05.09%
4. Child labors 02.49%
5. Casual labors (daily hire basis) 47.93%
6. Migrant brick-kin labors 05.44%
7. Public road construction labors 00.83%
8. Grain market labors 04.85%
9. Rural handicraft labors 01.66%
10. Skilled labors 06.15%
Table 1[8]

Table 1 shows the labors patterns of 72.41% of labor forces while 27.59% in other occupations and small jobs.

3.2. Economic Status

Dogar selected 1268 working labors to study the economical status of scheduled caste origin Christians. Table 2 reveals their economic status.

Labor Patterns of Scheduled Caste Origins Christians

Sr. Family Patterns Amount per annum Percentage

1. Family incomes up to Rs. 5000 per annum 03.57%
2. Family incomes up to Rs. 10,000 per annum 42.14%
3. Family incomes up to Rs. 15,000 per annum 24.29%
4. Family incomes up to Rs. 20,000 per annum 12.14%
5. Family incomes up to Rs. 25,000 per annum 17.14%
6. Family incomes above Rs. 25,000 per annum 00.71%
Table 2[9]

The table 2 shows that (category 1+2), that is, 45.71% scheduled caste origin Christians in North West India are below poverty line. The remaining families though low income can be considered above the poverty line while only 00.71% falls in a comfortable income group which is very low in percentage.

3.3. Land Possessions of Schedule Caste Origin Christians

Dogar’s study also reveals the total agriculture land in possession of Christians recorded as per the study is 199 acres. Dogar writes,

“Accordingly the per-capita agriculture land of Christian comes to 0.051 acre which is nearly 200 square yard, whereas the per capital agriculture land holding in Punjab as per the state figures is 0.50 acre, that is, 2000 square yards. Thus as per the state calculations, the Christians who have a population of about 2.50 lacs, should possess more than one hundred thousand acres of agriculture land. But there are only 10.43 percent of Christians who possess agriculture land, out of which 7.86 percent hold land only upto 3 acres, 1.29 percent hold land upto 5 acres, 1.14 percent hold land up to 10 acres, and 0.14 percent hold land upto 20 acres.[10]

Dogar also found that only 0.30% Christians hold commercial land which varies from 2 to 10 marlas, while 99.57% of Christians do not hold any commercial land.[11]


3.4. Live-stock Possessions of Schedule Caste Origin Christians

Dogar found out from his study that 54% of Christians own upto 1 or 2 cattle heads, 2.29% Christians own upto 3 cattle which indicates only domestic use. Only 1.14% Christians possess up to 5 cattle head and 0.71% possesses more than five cattle which can be considered of some commercial value. The remaining 41.86% Christians do not possess any live-stock.[12]

4. Educational Status of Scheduled Caste Origin Christians in North West India

The education among the scheduled caste origin Christian of North West India has declined during the period of 1960 to 1990. Dogar points out.[13]

Decade wise Education Level of Christians

1960s E. Y Campbell’s, “The Church in Punjab,” (estimated) 20%
1970s Maqbul Caleb’s, “Survey of Amritsar Diocese,” (estimated) 20%
1980s Diocese of Chandigarh, CNI, CDP Survey (8 villages) 15%
1990s Present study figure, as recorded below… 10%
Table 3[14]

Dogar’s finding reveals the following data on scheduled caste origin Christians, which suggest their educational backwardness remains the same even after converting to Christianity.

Overall Education Profile of Rural Christians

Sr. Category Total Male Percentage Female Percentage
1. Educated 10.00% 266 07.00% 134 03.00%
2. Literate 36.00% 856 22.00% 533 14.00%
3. Illiterate 54.00% 967 25.00% 1113 29.00%
Table 4[15]

Table 4 is statistical analysis of scheduled caste origin Christians of North West India, where only 10% of the sample population taken for study reveals as educated. This finding reveals the educational backwardness of scheduled caste origin Christians and their educational backwardness remains the same like any other scheduled caste communities of any religions.

Table 5 classified the 10% educated categories into educational qualifications, where 55% of them are just matriculation.

Sr. Class Total Total % Male % Female %
1. Matric 222 55.50% 40.50% 15.00%
2. +1, +2 & Under Graduate 97 24.25% 14.25% 10.10%
3. BA, B Sc, B Com 23 05.75% 03.75% 02.00%
4. MA, M Sc, M Com 1 00.25% 00.25% 00.00%
5. Junior Professional 19 04.75% 02.00% 02.75%
6. Senior Professional 3 00.75% 00.50% 00.25%
7. Under Training 35 08.75% 05.25% 03.50%
Table 5[16]

5. Social Status of Scheduled Caste Origin Christians of North West India

Dogar has studied the social status of scheduled caste origin Christian on the basis of their physical and social environment in which they live, their relational behavior and mingling with other communities. Dogar finds out,

A specific question was asked, as to ‘whether they have access to the houses of the other communities?’ 95.43 percent says ‘yes’ they have access to the houses of other communities’, 3.71 percent say ‘no’ and 0.86 percent do not comment. Out of the 95.43 percent who say that they have access to the houses of other communities, 42.96 percent reveal that they have access only up to working place, 5.24 percent say that their access is only up to the court yard, 15.42 percent say up to the veranda, 30.84 percent say that they can go up to the sitting room and 5.54 percent claim that they can go up to the kitchen.[17]

In supporting to Dogar’s statement, allowing low caste people upto kitchen can be the sign of accepting the person in their social setup. Only 5.54% access to the kitchen of other communities and 94.46% not allowed entering the kitchens of other caste and communities suggest that scheduled caste origin Christians still suffer social discrimination like other low caste communities.

Social Status of Scheduled Caste Origin Christians

Sr. Status Number Percentage
1. Very high social status 0 00.00%
2. High social status 0 00.00%
3. Moderate social status 212 30.71%
4. Low social status 457 65.29%
5. Very low social status 28 04.00%
Table 6[18]

Table 6 reveals Dogar finding of social status of scheduled caste origin Christians. Categories (4+5) of low and very low social status reveal 69.29% while only 30.71% feel moderate social status.

6. Conclusion

Ever since India got independent scheduled caste origin Christians have been demanding to restore the scheduled caste status which is deleted from Para 3 of Article 341 of India Constitution. Political party after parties, commission after commissions know for sure that scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity remain the same socio-economic and educational backwardness as any of scheduled caste communities of other religions.

Now scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity, after 60 years of social injustice by denying constitutional provisions, have come to knock at the door of Indian Justice System.

Dogar’s work on social-economic and educational status of scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity has substantiate data analysis which has academic credential to prove the socio-economic and educational backwardness of scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity in four North Western states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir.

Therefore, Justice Misra Commission and other consultative institutions which have been asked by Justice Misra Commission to study the socio-economic and educational status of scheduled origins converted to Christianity must accept the work of Dogar.

Dogar’s work is also reliable on the subject Justice Misra Commission is seeking because sufficient population of scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity is found in the North Western state of India where Dogar has taken the study, does reflect National socio-economic and educational status of scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity.

Therefore I recommend the Justice Ranganath Misra Commission and other consultative institutions that the commission has asked to study, to consider taking into the account of socio-economic and educational status of scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity, collected Christian scholars like Dogar himself.

The Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society (CISRS) has also conducted similar study for other states. CISRS says, the similar socio-economic and educational status of scheduled caste origins converted to Christianity are found out in the southern states of Karnataka and Kerala.[19]

Foot Notes

[1] Vidya Sagar J. Dogar, Rural Christian Community in North West India, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2001.
[2] Ibid., p.55.
[3] Ibid., p.49.
[4] http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Summary%20Christians.pdf
[5] Dogar, op.cit., p. 55.
[6] Ibid., p.54.
[7] Ibid., p.68
[8] Ibid., pp.70-76.
[9] Ibid., p. 85.
[10] Ibid., p.89
[11] Ibid.,
[12] Ibid.,
[13] Ibid., p.101.
[14] Ibid.,
[15] Ibid., p.102
[16] Ibid.,
[17] Ibid., pp.141-142
[18] Ibid., p.146
[19] Ibid., p. xi.

Reservation Day Declared and celebrated

All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations
H.O: B-113, Sarvodaya Enclave, New Delhi – 17. Tel 26960022, 26534559

www.scstconfederation.com

Dr. Udit Raj – National Chairman
President – Indian Justice Party

Press Release

Reservation Day Declared and celebrated

New Delhi: August 7, 2006.

In a jampacked Talkatora Stadium, on the occasion of Reservation Day, Dr. Udit Raj today stated that former Prime Minister Shri V. P. Singh could have been honored like this long before what we are doing today. He stated that forces of social justice and progressive leaders like V. P. Singh former Prime Minister of India, A. B. Bardhan of CPI, Raj Babbar – MP and founder leader of Jan Morcha, Dr. Joseph D’souza – President of All India Christian Council and many more have all come together to further the cause of social justice.

All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations and Indian Justice Party to make this day that is August 7 of each year as 'Reservation Day', the day of social justice when poor, deprived farmers and exploited come together and discuss their wretched conditions and devise ways to improve their conditions. Despite bad health of Shri V. P. Singh, he remained a crusader for poor, SC/STs, OBCs and JJ clusters.

The President of Indian Justice Party, Dr. Udit Raj, stated today that the Veerapa Moily Committee should be rejected. The Oversight Committee headed by him has recommended implementing reservation to OBCs in phases. Unfortunately, there are contradictions in Congress itself in so far as implementation of 27% reservation is concerned. However, HRD Minister, Arjun Singh's intention is clear that it should be implemented at one go. Dr. Udit Raj patted CPM, CPI and DMK for favoring the implementation of reservation at one go.

On 7th August, 1990, then Prime Minister, Shri V. P. Singh announced to implement the Mandal Commission Recommendations. The present reservation of 27 % is rooted in Mandal Commission. Dr. Udit Raj said that the Indian Justice Party will observe the Reservation Day on 7th August, every year. Former Prime Minister Shri V. P. Singh was honored on the occasion.

Dr. Joseph D’souza said in his speech, “Indian Dalits and Backward class communicates suffer social, political, economic injustice for centuries. They suffer injustice at the hands of Indian media power, Indian political power and those economic power holders. Only people who understand the plights of Indian Dalits and backward class communities can give justice to them.”

V. P. Singh in his concluding remark mentioned about Indian reservation system started way back with 3000 years old Hindu caste system. He says, “Designating education only to Brahmins, Ruling authority only to Kshetriyas, Trade only to Vaishyas, and labor only to Sudhras and Dalits.” Mr. Singh further said, “Injustice done to Indian Dalits and backward class communities are more a death penalties.”

People criticized V. P. Singh when he attempted to implement Reservation for backward class communities according to the recommendation of Mandal commission. Mr. Singh says, “Although my political leg was broken in 1990, the very ball I kicked scored the goal and the ball never came back and it is achieving its own goal.”

The All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations is fighting for reservation in private Sector, which Manmohan Singh govt. had promised it in Common Minimum Program but still it has not been fulfilled. There are other urgent issues, which Confederation will continue raising like backlog in govt. services and bringing out of Reservation Act.

Press Released to Media by,

Mr. M. Chandra, National Secretary, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations.

Rahul Bajaj to continue opposing job reservation in pvt sector

New Delhi, Jul 27: The newly-elected Rajya member Rahul Bajaj today said he would continue to oppose compulsory job reservation in the private sector."My view is the same as those of the industrial chambers like CII, FICCI and Assocham, who are against compulsory reservation in the private sector," Bajaj told reporters here on the sidelines of the felicitation ceremony by Assocham.He said while the industry is playing a role in the uplift of socially-backward classes, forcing them to do so would be against its interest.He said, "our policy should be more focussed on providing education to all so that the very neccessity of the reservation policy is removed."

Arjun appoints PS Krishnan as adviser

Arjun appoints PS Krishnan as adviser

[ 10 Jul, 2006 2128hrs ISTPTI ] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1725209.cms


NEW DELHI: With the reservation issue entangled in controversies, HRD Minister Arjun Singh has appointed a retired bureaucrat and an expert on the subject to advise him on the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in elite educational institutions.

PS Krishnan, a 1956 batch IAS officer who headed the Welfare Ministry at the time when Prime Minister VP Singh had announced in 1990 implementation of 27 per cent job reservation in government for OBCs, has been appointed as Honorary Adviser to the Minister to specifically advise on the reservation issue.

"My only condition to the government was take my advice and give a serious thought to it. Do not fix any price on it," said Krishnan, who had in 1979 signed the order appointing BP Mandal Commission which had recommended 27 per cent job reservation for OBCs in government. That had formed the basis for VP Singh's government's decision.

Claiming that nobody knew the issue better than him, he said that some critics to the OBC reservation in educational institutions write without knowing the "a, b, c of the subject and without reading the Mandal Commission recommendations".

Pro-reservation students hold rally in New Delhi

Pro-reservation students hold rally in New Delhi

Press Trust of India

June 8, 2006

Pro-quota students on Thursday held a rally in New Delhi demanding quick implementation of reservations for OBCs in higher education institutions.

"Reservations are necessary for providing a level-playing field for students of the backward community," Udit Raj, President, Indian Justice Party said addressing the gathering.

"The day there is equality in economic, political and social backgrounds of the student community, there will be no need for reservations," he added.

Representatives from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Nagpur University and Indian National Medical Association, the break-away faction of the Indian Medical Association, participated in the rally.

V.P. Singh for referendum on quota

Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI: Cutting across party lines, political leaders on Sunday called for unity on the issue of reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

They urged the United Progressive Alliance Government to bring in legislation in the monsoon session of Parliament to implement the 93rd Constitutional Amendment, which provides for reservation to OBCs in institutions of higher education. There were subtle hints that if the policy was not implemented, the issue could become a rallying point for like-minded parties.

"No dilly-dallying"

The former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, called for a national referendum on reservation, and said the 93rd Constitutional Amendment should be implemented in one go. "There should be a movement for referendum on reservation for [the] Scheduled Castes and [the] Scheduled Tribes and the OBCs in education, media, [the] private sector and [in] judiciary. Let the people decide. Let there be a vote on it. There should be no dilly-dallying on the issue," he said at a `National Seminar on Social Justice to the OBCs,' organised by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK).
Call for a movement

Mr. Singh, who implemented the Mandal Commission recommendations as Prime Minister in 1990, said it was more than 15 years since Mandal but in some States, the Backward Classes had not been given reservation. In some others, particularly in the north, Muslims had not been included. "Honesty has to be tested on this issue on the ground," he said, calling for a movement.

"Parties can be divided, movements are not."

Rejecting suggestions of implementing the policy in instalments, he said: "It should be dealt [with] in one surgery. Had I done the Mandal Commission in instalments, there would have been chaos and [a] bloodbath. I did it through a Government Order, and no one has been able to erase my signature from that order."

Judicial services

He said an All-India Judicial Services should be created, and there should be a public service examination.

On reservation in the private sector, he said no capital sector could exist without a social cause. "In higher education, there can be steps for doubling the seats, and schools could run double shifts, but that cannot be a pre-condition for accepting reservation."

Most leaders at the inaugural session, including S. Ramadoss (PMK), Sharad Yadav (Janata Dal-United), D. Raja (Communist Party of India) and Chhagan Bhujbal (Nationalist Congress Party), criticised the media `hype' over the recent agitation by medical students.

They also criticised the Sam Pitroda-led Knowledge Commission that had, by a majority vote, backed merit against reservation in higher education.

The leaders called for OBC reservation this year itself and endorsed a resolution moved at the seminar. Dr. Ramadoss urged the Government to declare 2006 as the `Year of Social Justice' and bring in legislation for this.

Referring to the debate on the population of Dalits and the OBCs, Mr. Yadav called for a caste census. It was a reality that society was based on caste. "You do away with the caste system, and we will take back our demand on reservation."

According to Mr. Raja, it was the duty of the Government to implement reservation and bring in an enabling law.

"This is not the policy of one party, but of Parliament. It is a transitory demand till we achieve the objective of education and employment for all. It is meant to give equal opportunities and access to every person. If you ignore this, it will lead to turmoil."

Criticising the private sector, Mr. Raja said the Government should withdraw concessions such as land, and tax holiday if it refused to implement reservation.

A model law on education should be brought out by the Centre for all States to consider.

Mr. Bhujbal said if the reservation policy was not implemented, it could become a rallying point for like-minded parties. Despite up to 70 per cent reservation in some southern States, they were ahead of those in the north, he said.

Letter Campaign for Dalit Christian Reservation

Letter Campaign for Dalit Christian Reservation

June 27, 2006

Dear Dalit Bahujan Leaders,

This is special request to kindly help Dalits of other faith different than Hindu Dalits, Sikh Dalits and Buddhist Dalits.

The Supreme Court of India, once it convenes in July 2006 after its summer vacations, is expected to take up hearings on the writ petition seeking full SC rights for all Dalits irrespective of religion.

The government has asked the National Commission on Religious and Linguistic Minorities, otherwise called the Justice Rangnath Misra Commission, to look into the demand and give its opinion. This opinion will be presented before the Supreme Court

The Misra Commission has asked the Tata Consultancy to organize seminars on the subject. It has also asked the public to give its suggestions in the next few weeks. Earlier it held public meeting sin many cities in various parts of the countries.

Major Christian groups have already given one round of testimony. Apparently that has not satisfied someone in the Commission.

This is perhaps because the RSS and its more than 100 daughter organisations have launched a massive counter campaign against Christians in general and Christians of Dalit origin in particular and are flooding the offices of the Misra Commission with their poisonous hate mail.

This is to request you, therefore, to kindly send your letters and documents to the Justice Misra Commission in support of the demand of Christians of Dalit origin, to get this marginalized group its fundamental rights so brutally snatched from it by the Presidential Order 1950.

The postal address is "Member Secretary, NCRLM, Gate 30, II Floor,Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium New Delhi 110003. The Email Id of member secretary is das_asha@yahoo.com

The Chairman's postal address is 31, Aurangazeb Road New Delhi 110001. The Commission's Email Id is: ncrlm2005@rediffmail.com.

Support us in our campaign for Christians of Dalit origin by sending email to the commission.Sample letter is printed on back of this letter. Kindly print it in your official letter head and send to the address given as your earliest. Thank you
Yours sincerely,



Rev. M. Madhu Chandra
Regional Secretary

__________________________________________________________

Please Use your Organisation/church letter head
Sample letter to Justice Shri Ranganath Misra Commission

Date:

Justice Shri Ranganath Misra
Chairman
National Commission for Religious & Linguistic Minorities
Gate No 30, II Floor, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003

Sir,

Subject: Extension of Reservations to Dalit Christians.

We are glad that the Commission headed by you has been requested to examine the justification for specification of Dalit Christians as Scheduled Castes for the purpose of reservation. Kindly permit us to submit the following for your kind consideration.

In spite of various efforts made by the governments, caste discrimination and untouchability remain a major social concern specific to Indian Society.

Although they are Christians, the Christians of Scheduled Castes Origin live and work along with Hindu Dalits. The stigma of untouchability and social ostracism haunt them wherever they go and whatever they do.

Just because of being Christians, they are not spared from communal violence and abuse by upper and dominant caste communities. Nor are they treated equally by the upper caste Christians.

That they continue to suffer from the same socio economic disabilities and that the change of religion does not alter their socio-economic status have been established by various commissions appointed by the governments from time to time and also by the many rulings by the Supreme Court.

Moreover the discrimination against Dalit Christians based on the third para of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 goes against many articles of the Constitution of India. It is discrimination on the basis of religion and it is sad to note that the violation is done by the State itself (Article 15)

It also goes against Freedom of Religion (Article 25). The Order forces the Dalits to remain in a particular religion, allured by the socio economic privileges and fear of losing the same if they dare to choose a religion of their choice.

The Dalit Christians, though they are Dalits, are deprived and denied of civil and legal safeguards and protection that are provided for Hindu Dalits under the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1976, Untouchability (Offences) Act 1955 and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. Thus they stand vulnerable to the abuses and attacks of the dominant castes, without any possibility of legal redressal as Dalits.

Besides, the Government has already amended the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order) 1950 twice: First in 1956 to include Dalit Sikhs and next in 1990 to include Dalit Buddhists in the Scheduled Castes.

The Government has already considered the demand of the Dalit Christians and prepared the draft amendment bill in 1996. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of Bill NO17 of 1996 says: "Converts to the Christian religion, who are of the Scheduled Castes origin, are precluded from the statutory benefits and safeguards accruing to members of the Scheduled Castes. Demands have been made from time to time for extending these benefits and safeguards to the Christians of the Scheduled Castes origin by granting them recognition as the Scheduled Castes on the ground that the change of religion has not altered their social and economic conditions. Upon due consideration of these demands, it is proposed to amend the relevant Constitution (Scheduled Cates) Orders to include the Christian converts from the Scheduled Castes as the Scheduled Castes therein, hence the Bill."

It is clear from the above statement that the government is asserting that the 'change of religion has not altered social and economic conditions' and that it has 'duly considered the demand and proposed to amend the Order' and the statement holds good even now when caste violence is so open and the number is on the increase. Hence we request you to kindly recommend to the Government to include the Christians of Scheduled Caste Origin in the Scheduled Castes and provide them the same status as their counterparts in Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

Name, Address and phone number

Congress committed to OBC quota, says APCC chief

Congress committed to OBC quota, says APCC chief
Special Correspondent

http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/19/stories/2006061914820400.htm

Says stir on the issue in northern States reflects degeneration in politics

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Keshava Rao has said that the recent anti-reservation stir in northern States reflects the degeneration in politics as the agitation targeted a Constitutional amendment by Parliament.

"How credible is such politics of upper castes?" he asked at a meeting organised by State BC Welfare Association here on Sunday.

Mr. Keshava Rao said that those opposing reservations expressed their anger in a manner that everything was over for the country by the 27 per cent quota for OBCs.

They made a hollow claim that merit was a casualty in the process. Merit could be judged only after students underwent courses. They should be evaluated on an even keel to know their worth, he said, adding that merit had no meaning before students joined a course.

The APCC chief maintained that Congress was committed to implementing the quota for OBCs.
The Government could increase seats for other castes to make up for their shortage owing to the implementation of the quota but the rule of reservation should be followed for the hiked seats as well.

BJP Secretary B. Dattatreya said that BCs could not expect justice unless they got political reservations. Association president R. Krishnaiah also spoke.

Majority of Indians want quota

Majority of Indians want quota

CNN-IBN

CLASS APART: People believe quotas create equal opportunity in education.

New Delhi: The anti-quota protests dominated news headlines for weeks, but were they the representative of the real mood of the nation? A CNN-IBN and The Indian Express survey conducted by A C Nielsen on the issue has come up with some startling facts. nielsen The findings of the survey show that majority of Indians support reservations and feel that quotas in higher education will lead to equal opportunities.

According to the survey, 57 per cent Indians favour the Government's decision on 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher education. Only 37 per cent feel otherwise.

Majority of the respondents feel that reservations in higher education are a key to social justice. As many as 63 per cent of the respondents said that reservations in higher education will lead to equal opportunity as against 34 per cent who felt that it will lead to loss of quality.

The survey was done among 776 people in five metros in both rural and urban areas.

The sample for the survey was unique. It had 40 per cent OBCs, 25 per cent SC and ST; 10 per cent Muslims and 25 per cent from general category, a representation of the Indian population.
But there are many surprises as well. While supporting the reservations, the respondents were dismissive of the present system of quota. As many as 57 per cent of the respondents want a changed and improved reservation system for the SC/STs, while 26 per cent want no change.

But, 15 per cent of the respondents want reservations to be scrapped. But the real surprise—53 per cent OBCs want improved reservation policy while for SC/ST the number stands at 61 per cent.

Majority of the respondents want economics to be the main criterion for reservation. 67 per cent of the respondents support the view that poor of all castes should get reservation benefits, while 25 per cent supported reservations for backward castes only.

For all those politicians trying electoral politics in supporting or opposing the reservations, the survey has bad news.

The Government’s decision will not shift the voting pattern. 84 per cent respondents said no to any change in their voting, while only 12 per cent felt otherwise. But, among those who will be shifting, the UPA will be the major gainer with 52 per cent, with NDA second with 31 per cent.
With greater awareness this time, reservations have truly become a national issue with 79 per cent respondents aware of the controversy. And 61 per cent of the respondents were aware of the Government's decision in this regard.

A surprise of the survey: 52 per cent of the respondents had never heard about the Mandal Commission.