Dalit Christians Calls on Churches to end discrimination
Tlrunelevli, Tamil Nadu, 16 June 2009:
Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM) has demanded the Church leadership to
take the initiaive of giving equal rights and participation to Dalit Christians
in the Church structure for the sake of concerted development of the Chrisitan
community as a whole.
Alleging the Church leadership of ignoring the just demands of Dalit Christians
listed in the ‘New Delhi Declaration’ Dalit leaders strongly criticised the
indifference on the part of the Church leadership. The New Delhi Declaration
was released by R.L. Francis, National President PCLM in June 2002 on behalf of
2.5 crore Dalit Christians in India demanding equal rights and participation of
Dalit Christians in the Church structure.
Speaking at a meeting organised by PCLM State Unit, P. Naresh Ambedkar,Convener
of Tamil Nadu said that if the Church ledership is serious about the
development of Dalit Christians, the downtrodden section of the Christian
congregation, they should come out clearly on the issue of implementing the
demands of Dalit Christians as contained in the New Delhi Declaration. There is
no alternative before them and sooner they do it, it would be in the best
interest of the Christian community as a whole.
The ten-point Declaration of demands includes i. three acres of cultivable land
to each rural Dalit Christian family, ii. Compulsory and free education to
their children, iii. Postponement of Evangelism and Conversion programme for
100 years and the money thus diverted be utilised towards development and
upliftment of Dalit Christians, iv. Instead of raising the bogey of reservation
from the Government by their inclusion in the Scheduled Caste list, reservation
for Dalit Christians in Church organisations and institutions, v. Reduction in
the number of Bishops, vi. Empowerment of women, youth and elders, vii.
Bringing transparency in the functioning of Christian NGOs, viii. Proper
accounting of the income sources like Sunday collections etc. and Utilisation
of Cemetery land for rehabilitation of poor Christians.
