India's govenrment pledges help for Christian dalits
Catholic World News
December 17, 2007
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=55404

In India the National Coordination Committee for Dalit Christians-- a joint program of the Catholic bishops’ conference of India and other Church groups-- has hailed the government’s assurance to end the discrimination against Christian dalits.

Federal home minister Shivraj Patil told Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil, the president of the bishops' council for the southern Kerela state, that the federal government is initiating steps to end the discrimination against Christian dalits. “The entire Christian community would be grateful to the (government) if it acts swiftly in coming months,” said the Church groups in response to the minister’s promise. 'Dalit' (meaning "trampled upon" in Sanskrit) refers to the groups traditionally treated as "untouchables" under the caste system in India. In the past dalits were restricted to degrading forms of employment, and discrimination still continues.

While Hindu dalits were made eligible in 1950 to free education and reservation in government jobs to improve their social status, these benefits were extended to Sikh dalits in 1956 and Buddhist dalits in 1990. However, the Christian demand for the same rights for the dalits-- who accounts for two-thirds of 27 million Christians in India-- have been ignored for decades.