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 It has been our constant struggle to see that Dalit Christians got their due. They have been denied their constitutional rights just because they have preferred to exercise their right to freedom of religion. For the ‘sin’ of daring to embrace the Christian faith, they have been denied the status of Scheduled Castes, which is necessary to avail themselves of all rights provided to them by the Constitution of India.
Yet the struggle has not been in vain. The National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCRLM) has now sought public opinion on requests to designate Scheduled Caste Hindu converts to Islam and Christianity as Scheduled Castes. The NCRLM is also holding discussions with different private and non-government agencies over the matter. "NGOs and members of the public are requested to inform the commission of their views within a period of three weeks," a statement issued by the Commission on 10 June 2006 says. It may be recalled last year the Union Government had directed the NCRLM to deal with demands to specify Scheduled Caste converts to Islam and Christianity as Scheduled Castes as part of its larger terms of reference. Headed by former Chief Justice of India Ranganath Misra, the Commission is entrusted with the responsibility to recommend welfare measures for disadvantaged sections among religious and linguistic minorities. Since it is an important development and due pressure has to be exerted on the Commission to have a favourable verdict, the All India Christian Council appeals to everyone to write to Justice Ranganath Misra Commission at the following address: The Chairman, National Commission for Religious & Linguistic Minorities, Gate No: 30, II Floor, Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110003 Phone: 011-24369325/24363923
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