BANGALORE, INDIA (ENI) Church groups have hailed the report of a federal commission recommending an end to decades of religion-based discrimination that excluded Christian and Muslim Dalits from affirmative action legislation and have also called for the laws to be changed.
Dalit literally means “trampled upon” and refers to low castes once called “untouchables” in India’s caste-ridden society. Although the caste system has been officially outlawed, Dalits are often consigned to carrying out only the lowest of menial jobs while living in segregation from upper castes, especially in rural areas.
The report of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, presented in the national Parliament, recommended de-linking the official Dalit status from religion.
The commission suggested changing 1950 legislation, something demanded by Christian groups and Muslims for decades because they said it led to discrimination among Dalits on religious grounds.
Nearly two-thirds of the 27 million Christians in India are Dalits.
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