Christian Institutions Under Threat With Government Order: MLA Writes To CM
By SAR NEWS BANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) -- Over 1,200 schools managed by the Christian minority community are facing impending threat of losing their “minority status” in the light of a government order of December 16, 2005 coming into force shortly. Clause 4 of the order states: “50 percent of the students of the particular language/religious community should be compulsorily admitted in the minority educational institutions.” Member of the Legislative Assembly, Ivan Nigli, the only Christian representative in the legislature who represents the Anglo-Indian community, told SAR News, “Since the Christian community is a minority community in India and Karnataka, representing only about 2 percent of the population, it is practically impossible for the Christian institutions to admit 50 percent of Christian students, even though no Christian is denied admission in these institutions.” He noted that the order was a carefully devised ploy to deny minority educational institutions the “minority” tag. In a letter to Karnataka state Chief Minister H.D. Kumaaraswamy, Nigli said, “Many Christian minority institutions are Kannada medium schools catering to the poor and the lower middle class in rural areas and small towns. “The government order of compulsory admission of 50 percent Christian minority institution definitely lacks vision. This will weaken the functioning of the Christian minority institutions. These institutions, which played a very vital role in the education of the people of Karnataka, deserves the support of the government for the smooth functioning and building up of the future citizens of Karnataka.” _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)