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Dalit Christians to agitate for SC status

BERHAMPUR: Dalit Christians of Orissa are planning to hold agitation throughout the State demanding Scheduled Caste status.

They alleged that the Government was delaying implementation of report of Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission, which in its report submitted five months back recommended the Government to declare dalit Christians as Scheduled Castes, as they are still downtrodden.

Representatives of dalit Christian community from eight districts of the State met at Mohana in Gajapati district on Tuesday to chalk out their future course of action. The meeting was attended by president of National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC), Mary Johan and its State convener Kumar Prasant.

Ms Johan called upon like-minded organisations and social activists of the State to come forward and help the dalit Christians get their right from the government. Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, Mr Prasant deplored the stance of the State as well as Centre to forget the underdevelopment of tribals and Scheduled Castes once they get converted to Christianity. "Can only religious conversion change the social status of a person whose clan has suffered social ostracisation since generations," he asked. Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission filed its report to Centre five months back. Most Left parties and many other political parties have supported the claim of dalit Christians.

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