Church Delegation Seeks Affirmative Action for Dalit Christians

Featured & Cover Church Delegation Seeks Affirmative Action for Dalit Christians

A church delegation has called upon a government-appointed panel to extend affirmative action benefits to Dalit Christians, whose ancestors were historically classified as untouchable within India’s rigid caste-based social structure. The delegation, comprising 15 members, met with a commission led by retired Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan to discuss the ongoing marginalization of Dalit Christians. According to Father Anthony Raj Thumma, a member of the delegation, the group presented their concerns regarding the hardships faced by Dalit Christians.

In 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government established a three-member commission to examine whether Dalit individuals who have converted to Christianity or Islam should be entitled to the same social welfare benefits currently available to Dalits of Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh faiths. Father Thumma, who also serves as the secretary of the Indian bishops’ Office for Ecumenism, shared that the commission listened attentively to their appeal and requested additional clarifications.

On October 12, the delegation, led by Montfort Brother Jos Daniel, met with the commission in New Delhi, where they submitted a memorandum expressing their grievances. India is home to 201 million Dalits, and nearly 60 percent of the country’s 25 million Christians can trace their roots to Dalit or tribal communities. Despite legal progress, such as the 1955 law making untouchability a criminal offense, social discrimination against Dalits persists in various forms.

Despite the law, Dalit Christians and Muslims have been excluded from affirmative action benefits for the last seven decades. This exclusion stems from the argument that Christianity and Islam do not adhere to the hierarchical Hindu caste system, which has historically defined Dalit identity. As a result, successive governments have denied them access to the social welfare programs designed to assist Dalits. These programs, which were introduced under India’s constitution, are aimed at integrating Dalits—officially referred to as Scheduled Castes (SCs)—into mainstream society. The benefits include reserved seats in educational institutions, job quotas, and representation in legislative bodies.

The roots of this exclusion can be traced back to a presidential order issued in 1950, which limited these benefits to Dalit Hindus on the grounds that the Dalit caste only existed within Hinduism. However, amendments to the order later included Dalit Sikhs and Buddhists in the list of those eligible for benefits. Dalit Christians, however, continue to be excluded, and Church leaders have long argued that conversion to Christianity does not eradicate the socio-economic disadvantages associated with being a Dalit. They maintain that Dalit Christians experience “double discrimination”—not only are they ostracized by society, but they are also neglected by the government in terms of social welfare.

Two decades ago, leaders from the Christian and Muslim communities jointly filed a petition with India’s Supreme Court, calling for an end to the discrimination faced by Dalit Christians and Muslims. The court is expected to address the issue next month, following the release of the commission’s findings.

This is not the first time a government commission has studied the question of extending SC status to Dalit Christians and Muslims. Two previous panels, the Ranganath Misra Commission in 2004 and the Rajinder Sachar Commission in 2005, both recommended granting affirmative action benefits to Dalit Christians and Muslims. These commissions argued that converting to religions such as Christianity and Islam—often described as “egalitarian” faiths—had not significantly improved the socio-economic conditions of Dalit converts.

Despite these recommendations, the Modi government rejected the proposals made by the earlier commissions. Instead, they formed a new panel under the leadership of Justice Balakrishnan, who himself hails from the Dalit community. The current commission has been consulting with various stakeholders, including Church officials and Muslim leaders, to gather insights before delivering its final report.

Social commentators often point out that the appointment of commissions is a common tactic used by Indian governments to delay taking action on contentious issues. In this case, the inclusion of Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin in the SC list has been consistently avoided by successive governments, likely due to concerns about a potential backlash from the Hindu majority, which constitutes roughly 90 percent of the population.

The longstanding issue has deeply affected Dalit Christians, who argue that the conversion to Christianity did not significantly alter their social standing. “Changing one’s religion does not change one’s socio-economic condition,” said a Dalit Christian leader. “Our people still face discrimination, and the government has also turned its back on us.”

The Dalit community has historically been positioned outside of India’s four-tier caste system and was subjected to the harshest forms of social ostracism. While the practice of untouchability was officially outlawed in 1955, its impact remains deeply ingrained in society. Dalit Christians, in particular, find themselves in a vulnerable position. While they are no longer legally untouchable, they often face persistent prejudice from the broader community. Furthermore, the government’s refusal to extend SC benefits to Dalit Christians means that they are denied crucial social protections, such as access to reserved government jobs and educational opportunities.

The denial of these benefits has created a cycle of marginalization, where Dalit Christians are pushed to the periphery of both their religious and social communities. This exclusion exacerbates existing inequalities and limits opportunities for upward mobility. For many Dalit Christians, the hope for change now lies with the recommendations of the current commission. If the commission decides to include Dalit Christians and Muslims in the SC category, it could mark a significant shift in India’s social and political landscape.

The Modi government’s decision to appoint a new commission is being watched closely by social and political analysts, as it could signal the government’s stance on affirmative action for religious minorities. However, some remain skeptical about whether the government will take action, given the political sensitivities surrounding the issue.

Meanwhile, the Church and other organizations continue to advocate for equal treatment for Dalit Christians. As the commission prepares to finalize its report, there is growing anticipation about the potential outcomes. If the commission recommends affirmative action for Dalit Christians, the government will face significant pressure to implement the changes. However, if the commission’s findings are ignored, it is likely that Dalit Christians will continue their fight for social and economic justice, both through the courts and public advocacy.

As India’s Supreme Court prepares to hear the case next month, the outcome of this long-standing issue may finally come to light. Whether or not the commission’s recommendations will lead to concrete policy changes remains uncertain, but the calls for equality and justice for Dalit Christians continue to grow stronger with each passing day.

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