RELIGIOUS QUOTA DOES NOT REPLACE DEMAND FOR SCHEDULED CASTE STATUS

ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL
President: Dr. Joseph D’souza Secretary General: Dr. John Dayal

Address for Correspondence:
johndayal@vsnl.com
Mobile: 09811021072
Website: http://www.aiccindia.org

PRESS STATEMENT
NEW DELHI, September 14, 2007

Community welcomes Tamil Nadu reservations, but Dalit Christians still need same protection of law and affirmative action
[The following is the text of the Press Statement issued by Dr John Dayal, Member of the National Integration Council, Secretary General of the All India Christian Council and President of the All India Catholic Union, in response to the announcement of the Tamil Nadu Government yesterday giving a seven per cent quota for Muslims and Christians in the state.]
The Christian community in Tamil Nadu, and Tamil Christians across the world, will surely welcome with thanksgiving in their heart the decision of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government in the state of Tamil Nadu the provision of a 3.5 per cent reservation carved out of the existing Backward Communities reservations. We also welcome the decision of Chief Minister Dr M Karunanidhi's Cabinet to urge the Central government to grant similar quotas to Christians and to Muslims.
On the face of it, reservations for jobs and other opportunities on the basis of religion may seem an anathema in secular India where the Constitution guarantees equality in all sectors of life. The ground reality however presents a dismally negative picture. In most states, there is a wide chasm between the privileged castes and communities, and religious and other minorities who have minimal representation in state employment and the devolution of developmental resources.
Tamil Nadu had long ago recognised that communities suffered from developmental inequities irrespective of their religious affiliations. It also recognised that governments had to make determined thrust to ensure that affirmative action promised in independent India reached these communities and was not diluted because of judicial or administrative, but artificial, ceilings.
However, it is clearly understood that these reservations do not quench, much less take the place of the demand of the Christians of Dalit origin that they be given the same privileges, including reservations, as are given nationally to Dalits who profess Buddhism, Sikhism or Hinduism.
The writ petitions of several Dalit Christian groups are now before the Supreme Court and is expected to come up for hearing later this month. The Justice Rangnath Mishra National Commission for Linguistic and Religious Minorities has in its report already accepted this position and has commended full rights under the Scheduled Caste categories for Dalit Christians and Muslims. Dr Buta Singh, Chairman of the National Scheduled Caste Commission, is now considering the Misra Report and has in his public statements extended full to Dalit Christians and Muslims.
Classification under the Scheduled Caste provisions of the Constitution is much more than mere reservations in jobs or educational institutions. Political vested interests have long misled the Dalits professing Hinduism that they will somehow suffer if Muslims and Christians get similar benefits and that it would `eat into their cake.’. It has long been proved that this is not so, as the religious minorities, once they get Scheduled Caste status, not be part of the OBC or other quota.
Scheduled status goes much beyond mere jobs, which may be limited in some categories. The scope in education is unlimited, and reservations must indeed be open to the full extent possible. Dalits of Hindu faith will not suffer also if Scheduled status brings the protection of law to Muslims and Christians, to their widows, and those injured in caste violence. At present, Christian Dalits suffer as much as anyone else in caste violence, but are bereft of relief. In Panchayati Raj too, the benefits to one religious group will not be at the cost of any other groups.
The Tamil Nadu Government must tell the Centre that the UPA’s credibility suffers as of its partners if Scheduled Caste status is not given to Dalit Muslims and Christians because of their religious affiliation.

Released for publication