The government has conducting a survey on Christian conversions mainly in SCs in the state of Andhra Pradesh.The Department of Social Welfare has directed all the districts to conduct a field level survey of the number of converts belonging to the SC community at the zonal and municipality level across the state, who are adopting Christian rites and field level survey of the churches built in the SC colonies.
It is learned that Christian conversions targeting SCs are rampant in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the National SC Commission has issued notices to the state government on a joint report submitted by the Legal Rights Protection Forum and the SC-ST Rights Forum on the attack on the cultural traditions of the SC castes.The commission, in the notice to the Andhra Pradesh chief secretary, has asked the state government to take appropriate action on the issue of conversions and submit their details within 15 days.The notice also states that in case of non-compliance, appropriate action will have to be taken using the exclusive powers of the civil court.
In this context, the government has decided to conduct a statewide survey.Social Welfare department Chief Secretary Kantilal Dande issued directives to officials in all 13 districts.The survey has already started in Anantapur district.A memo was issued by the Deputy Director, Department of Social Welfare to the hostel welfare officers and assistant social welfare officers in the all districts.They want to calculate the number of churches in the municipalities and mandals.Government directed the officials to Go to some SC colonies and do the survey either they are practicing the Hinduism or Converted to Christianity? And also Ordered to submit these reports within five days.
Objections from Communists :
The Andhra Pradesh Communist Party has opposed the survey on Converted SCs who are availing the rights and reservations of original SCs.CPI (M) state secretary Penumalli Madhu said in an open letter to the chief minister that the process was leading to unnecessary controversy and would lead to rifts in the SCs.
SCST Rights Forum outrage over CPI letter to C.M :
The SCST Rights Forum has expressed outrage on the Communist Party (Marxist) for opposing the survey launched by the government.The forum said on its Twitter account that over the years, the cultural traditions of the SCs have been attacked by proselytizers, and that such conspiracies and intrigues will have no long future.
We will also submit a report: Announcement by Legal Rights Protection Forum
The Legal Rights Protection Forum has welcomed the latest survey conducted by the Andhra Pradesh government.”We have officially collected the details of a few hundred illegal churches in the state of Andhra Pradesh.These included mainly many churches built in the SC colonies.”The Legal Rights Protection Forum said that “we will submit our report also along with the report which will submitted by the government to the National SC Commission”.
Source : NIJAM TODAY
