"WCC fostering brahiminic traditions "

In a Mutirao organized on the situation of Dalits in India by the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of India (UELCI) on February 15, Bishop Devasahayam, Bishop of Madras, Church of South India lashed out against tolerant attitude of the Church, especially the World Council of Churches. He remarked that the Church concentrates on talking about only grace and not about the socio-ethical issues. (From left to Right Rev.Chandran Paul Martin, Exectuive Secretary, UELCI, Bishop Devasahayam, Bishop of Madras, Church of South India, Elizabeth Joy,Executive Secretary for Mission, Council of World Mission)

Speaking on the same occasion, Elizabeth Joy of the Council of World

Mission, UK, spoke about the agony of the Dalits especially the women. ‘In the context of the WCC’s focus on ‘Water for all’’, she said the struggle of the dalits is the not the lack of resources rather the lack of access to them.

There are stories galore of the numerous dalit brethren who are denied their rights by virtue of belonging to a certain caste. In cities, houses are given on rent on the basis of the caste one belongs to. In the rural areas of India, one’s very survival is at stake. There have been numerous instance of dalit youths being killed because they supposedly fell in love with a higher caste person or they touched the carcass of a dead cow. Dalit children in school have been severely and cruelly punished for drinking water from the common tap.

The UELCI is working towards supporting and empowering the Dalit community specially the Christians of the Dalit origin

Amelia Andrews, amelia@nccindia.in