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PRESS STATEMENT FROM CBCI AND SC/ST/BC

Commission for Scheduled Castes/Tribes and Backward Classes of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India

CBCI CENTRE, 1 Ashok Place, Gole Dakkhana, New Delhi, 110 001
Tel: 011/3344470, 3344695, 3344453

BIENNIAL REPORT – 1998-2000 SUBMITTED TO CBCI GENERAL BODY MEETING AT CHENNAI, ON 14^TH - 24^TH JANUARY 2000

Plight of Dalit Christians : The Caste system has seeped into Indian society and it is prevalent among all the sections of society. Dalit Christians, forming the majority in the Christian community also suffer humiliation, discrimination and socio, educational disabilities even after conversion due to the traditional practice of untouchability in the Church and in society. The Church in India has condemned the practice of discrimination against Dalits and constantly reminded the Christian community to maintain equality and justice in all levels. It is a sad reality that still, caste discrimination is prevalent in some parts of the Church in India. They are also denied their fundamental right of reservation by the Government on the basis of religion. This twice discriminated community crave for equal rights and brotherhood in the church and in the society.

Plight of Tribals : Extreme poverty with all its effects: isolation, illiteracy, oppression by non-tribals and the consequest fears, resentments, suspicions, Government negligence and police intimidation have been some of the important causes of Tribal marginalisation. Displacement from their fertile land and forest have driven them to a pathetic life without rehabilitation. For centuries the Tribals have suffered all kinds of injustices silently, submissively, and helplessly, without resistance.

I. MOTIVATION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

II. PROPOSALS FOR EMPOWERMENT OF DALITS AND TRIBALS

(A) Dalits : After having analysed the life situation, the problems and the root causes of the problems, the participants unanimously request the Bishops, Priests, religious and people, realising their roles, to involve themselves in the process of EMPOWERMENT OF DALITS IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE SOCIETY.

Bishops:

1. To ensure equality and brotherhood in the Church
2. To urge Religious, Diocesan Commissions, heads of institutions and Church related organisations to implement the action plans, proposed by the Church.
3. To facilitate Dalit vocations to Priesthood and religious life.
4. To establish SC/ST/BC Commissions with full infrastructure
5. To make ‘Dalit Theology’, incorporated in the syllabus of the seminaries
6. To propose Dalit candidates for Bishopric wherever it is possible

Priests:

1. To involve themselves in the liberation and empowerment of Dalits, the oppressed people.
2. To motivate the people through liturgy, preaching and action for equality and justice.
3. To establish Parish councils with proportionate representation of Dalits.

Religious:

1. To adopt Dalit villages as their mission area and engage themselves for the development of the depressed.
2. To follow the policy of reservation in Education and Employment.
3. To help the poor and weak students through special coaching and remedial classes.
4. To utilize education and personal power for the empowerment of Dalits.

People: (Laity)

1. To organise themselves as a "people movement" which is self reliant and sustainable by their own contribution for realising the vision of empowerment.
2. To encourage inter – caste marrigaes for eradication of caste discriminatin and building unity in the community.
3. To uplift the weaker section in the community by sharing their resources.
4. To build up selfless and committed leadership for social transformation

(B) Empowerment of Tribals : Participants during the seminar discussed the present condition of Tribals and discussed the various aspects of their empowerment. Their aspirations and expectations are expressed through following proposals to be implemented by all the sections of the Church for the empowerment of Tribals.

1. To provide them training for leadership and capacity building in parishes, dioceses and at regional levels to form themselves as committed leaders to work for Integrated Development of Tribal Community.
2. To develop the economic status of the Tribals, the diocesan social service societies, Catholic Charities, Catholic Cooperative Society and other agencies are urged to help eligible tribals to undertake income generation programmes.
3. To provide basic education to all the children
4. To motivate the students for continuation of their education
5. To train the youth for job oriented courses and competitive exams for obtaining jobs.
6. To collaborate with N.G.Os and secular organisations for obtaining compensation and rehabilitation to the Tribals who are affected by displacement.
7. To revive tribal culture and history for building up unity among the community
8. To build up GRAM SABHA and SELF HELP GROUP in all the dioceses. Xavier Institute of social services has volunteered to train the people for Gram Sabha and Self Help Groups in all the diocese of Jharkhand.

III. INTENSIVE COACHING FOR EMPLOYMENT
( Education for Empowerment )

The CBCI Commission for SC/ST/BC has been training Dalits/Tribals for central and state services in order to uplift the oppressed communities in the society, and our programme "Intensive Coaching for Employment", also provides them leadership formation for social transformation. 350 students have gone through our comprehensive training and we are happy to note that some of our students have obtained jobs as Deputy Collectors, District Superintendent of Police, Registrars and other executive jobs. Several students are going to appear in the last stage of interview for Group I executive jobs in the states of Bihar, Ranchi and Andhra.

Although none of the candidates cleared the last stage of the exam to become Civil servants in the Central Government, the review Committee recommended the continuation of the programme because it has motivated the Dalits/Tribals to aspire for higher offices and has inspired them to continue upward mobility with confidence. The perseverance of the candidates will certainly lead them to success, and they will be placed in powerful positions to empower the oppressed communities by their services.

1. Comprehensive Education

Academic Education: Intensive Coaching for employment programme provides multi dimensional training. While training the students for UPSC Civil Services exam to obtain IAS, it also prepares them to appear in all the competitive job oriented exams, making them qualified to secure jobs in other cadres of public and private sectors. General guidelines on each subject were given in the beginning, guiding the students to understand the subjects. A well equipped library is maintained in all the centres. Students purchase the reference books and guides. The professors provide orientation and sufficient guidelines to put them on the right track, preparing themselves systematically to approach the exams.

Awareness Education: Leadership qualities and personality development techinques were emphasized very much by organizers, visiting administrative leaders. The role of the Dalit youth in community development was well deliberated during special sessions. Life history of renowned and dynamic leaders inspired them. Their experimental study of the society convinced them to commit themselves to lead their people for liberation. There were also personality and leadership tests conducted. The students who entered the Centre with fear and an inferiority complex showed improvement.

Coaching for Main Exam and Interview : Those students who pass through the prelim exam will continue their training for the main and for interview in Delhi, because renowned professors are available in Delhi to guide the students for the final and the toughest exam.

Guidance : Study material is comprehensive, concise and examination oriented in nature. It’s aim is to make available almost all the relevant materials on every subject to the candidates, and reading material that will cover all the aspects of the subjects. Orientation, clarification and personal guidance will be provided by renowned Professors for systematic preparation. Seminars or camps will be conducted in different centres for awareness and motivation to form committed leadership for social transformation. At the end of the course one or two model tests will be conducted to asses the progress of the candidates. Students should pay a small amount as fee as a sign of their resposibility and commitment.

Exams :

1. UPSC Civil Services Exams for 32 administrative Services in Central Govt.
2. State Public Services Commissions Group I exam for administrative jobs in the state.
3. Staff Selectin Commission exam for officers’ cadre in various departments of Central Govt.
4. Banking recruitments Board exam for probationary offices in the Banks.
5. Defence Services Exam for officers cadres.

C.  Coaching Centres Duration

a. Ranchi (Hindi Medium) 7 months residential course

b. Kottayam, Kerala (English Medium) " " "

c. Hyderabad, A.P. (English Medium) " " "

d. Shillong (English Medium) " " "

e. Trichy (English Medium) 450 hours of coaching

D.    Number of Candidates

a. Candidates trained in the past 2 years 350

b. Total candidates in 5 centres 150

c. Total postal coaching candidates 60

E.   Publications

We have published two booklets for guiding the students to appear in UPSC Civil Services Exam and other competitive exams to facilitate aspirants to secure Clerical, Managerial and Administrative jobs in public and private sectors.

(1) Hand Book "Education for Empowerment". It is a comprehensive guide for Civil services exams. Each candidate for Civil services should possess this book. It contains syllabus, complete information about strategy of optionals, methodology of study, tips for the exam, and list of relevant study materials. The "Education for Empowerment", programme of the commission is well described in this book.

(2) Booklet "Directory of Competative Examinations": This booklet contains all the information about the competitive examinations conducted by ‘Staff Selections Commission’, Banking Services recruitments boards, State public services commission, Railway recruitments, Defence Services and other agencies for various jobs in the Centre and State Governments.

IV. EQUAL RIGHTS TO DALIT CHRISTIANS

1. Human Rights Rally To Demand Equal Rights to Dalit Christians: 

Three Thousand youth, coming from every nook and corner of India along with Religious Heads, Christian & Dalit leaders, participated in a convention on 3rd October, 1998 in the national capital, demanding the long pending Constitutional Rights For Dalit Christians. The President of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India, Member of National Integration Council and Archbishop of Delhi, His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Alan de Lastic inaugurated the rally at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Later a small delegation consisting of religious heads and youth representatives met the President Shri K.R. Narayanan and submitted the Memorandum. The President assured the delegation that he would place the demand of the Christian Community before the government, with his recommendation. The copy of the memorandum was also submitted to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

B. Demand and Response : 

The Christian community of India is dismayed at the inordinate delay of the Government to render justice. To the Christians in India, the past 45 years, have been years of struggles seeking social justice from the Union of India through Relay Fast, Nation-wide Closure of Christian Educational Institutions, Mass Rallies, Hunger Strikes, Prayer Meetings held through out-the country.The demand for equal rights to Dalit Christians has been justified by the Commissions appointed by the Government, Judiciary, Legislature and successive Governments, but justice is being delayed due to a craze for political gain, and absolute political will is lacking. This Human Rights issue has been converted into a political issue to satisfy a section of people by denial of Constitutional Rights to Dalit Christians.

C. Present Situation : 

The Commission has already submitted a memorandum to Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri. Atal Behari Vajpayee, Hon’ble Minister for law and justice Shri. Ram Jethmalani, other Ministers and all party leaders urging them to press the Government to fulfil its assurance, given on the floor of the Parliaments house. We also request all the Bishops and the leaders to persuade the regional party leaders and cabinet Ministers to raise the question in the Parliament regarding Government’s assurance.

BJP leaders while replying to the delegation asserted that their party will not make any more interventions on this issue for various reasons. The Indian Government has extended the reservation to SC/ST to one more year. During the debate in the parliament (Rajya Sabha) on 28^th October, 1999 Minister for Law and Justice Shri. Ram Jethmalani assured us that the Governments will consider the proposal of Shri Eduardo Falairo M.P for equal rights to Dalits in Christianity and Islam. Discession on this issue is also held among BJP leaders. Shri Rajagopal M.P is assigned the responsibility of preparing a draft.

V. PLAN OF CBCI COMMISSION FOR SC/ST/BC FOR FUTURE ACTION

After having examined the proposals and recommendations of the Christian community in India, the commission resolved to take up the following programmes for the empowerment of Dalits/Tribals and Backward Classes.

1. To organise the seminars and programmes of inter-action to motivate all the Sections in the Church to wipe out the discrimination and the caste practices at all the levels and to make collective efforts for the integral development of the Dalit and Tribals.

2. To form a development forum composed of Bishops, Dalits/Tribals leaders and representatives of Regional CRI, Multipurpose Societies, Commissions, other bodies etc. to monitor the implementation of programmes for the development of Dalits/Tribals.

3. To make a scientific survey by Institute of Development studies on socio, economic and educational disabilities of Dalit Christians in India for filing the case in the judiciary and strengthening our demand in the Parliament.

4. To Continue the struggle along with Human Rights associations, SC/ST Employees Federation, and Dalit/Tribal movements for Equal Rights to Dalit Christians and justice to the displaced Tribals.

5. To involve in lobbying in Delhi in order to persuade the supporters who are in the ruling party alliance as well as in other parties to press the Govt. to extend equal rights.

6. To continue the intensive coaching and postal coaching to the students for obtaining jobs in the public and private sectors

7. To publish booklets: (a) "The Empowerment of Dalits" (b) "The Empowerment of Tribals" (c) "Government’s programmes for community developments"

6. PROPOSALS TO CBCI GENERAL BODY FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION

We are thankful to the members of CBCI for having declared action programmes, in the message of the CBCI at Varanasi 1998 to be implemented in all the dioceses for the developments of Dalits/Tribals, but we regret to note that no diocese responded to our call regarding information about the implementation of programmes. Hence the commission appeals to all the members to provide details of implementation of the programmes, recommended by CBCI general body in Varanasi.

1.  Practice of discrimination in any form should be abolished with time bound action by appointing a monitoring team which identifies places and forms of discrimination practiced at all levels, and solves this problem with the cooperation of all the sections in the Church.
2. Dalits deserve membership and leadership in the administration of the Church related organisations. Personnel from the Dalit Community need to be appointed in the Diocesan Curia, Religious institutions, Educations institutions in the Diocese as well as in the Regions, proportionate to the percentage of Dalit population and it has to be monitored by the local Ordinary.
3. There must be recruitment and promotion of vocations from the Dalit Community for priesthood and religious life according to the size of the population in the Diocese.
4. A policy of reservation both in admission and employment for Dalits/Tribals must be followed by dioceses and religious congregations.
5. Many dioceses and regions do not have either a Commission or any other structure to contact for Dalit development activities. The formation of Commission would enable the National Commission to operate in those areas.
6.  Since the privilege of reservation in education and employment are denied to Dalit Christians, a scholarship amount will be an incentive and token of  encouragement to complete their studies. 
7. Our Schools and prestigious Colleges are above reach of the Dalit/Tribals Communities. The students trained by the Commissions expressed their distress that they could not avail of the services, rendered by these institutions. The Church has only educational power at it disposal therefore, the Church  should decide to utilise the available educational resources for Empowering  Dalit/Tribal Communities.

We thank all the bishops for having extended their kind cooperation to the Commission in the implementation of the programmes for the empowerment of Dalits/Tribals and backward classes.

Thanking you

Fr. S.Lourdusamy, Executive Secretary, CBCI Commission for SC/ST/BC

Bishop A.M.Chinnappa, Chairman, CBCI Commission for SC/ST/BC

Please forward your Comments : scst@bol.net.in is the official E-Mail Address of the CBCI Commission  for SC/ST/BC

scst@bol.net.in   or dalitchristian@hotmail.com