India Christians Not Receiving Aid In Deadly Flooding, Group Says
Thursday, November 12, 2009 (1:46 pm)
By Worthy News Chief International Correspondent Stefan J. Bos
NEW DELHI, INDIA (Worthy News)-- Christians already suffering of major flooding in the Indian state of Karnataka faced more difficulties Thursday November 12, amid fresh allegations that government aid is distributed mainly to "higher caste" Hindus.
The controversy emerged as Indian authorities warned Karnataka and other coastal states and territories to prepare for a new cyclone with heavy rainfall, adding to misery in a region where already hundreds of people died and millions were displaced in previous flooding.
"We are greatly distressed to note that discrimination on the basis of caste and religion has occurred in distribution of relief supplies in the state of Karnataka," said Sajan K. George, the national president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), which represents churches and mission groups.
"Christians and people of backward castes are unable to enter temple premises and collect the relief supplies in spite of having suffered the same environmental disaster," George told Worthy News and its partner agency BosNewsLife.
"In fact, instead of receiving relief supplies, Christians and other backward castes have been threatened from partaking of any of the government provided benefits."
"NUMEROUS" CASES
He said the GCIC has collected documented evidence of "numerous Christians who have been denied relief in Raichur, Karnataka" and said there have been similar reports in other regions of the state.
George linked the situation to the way the distribution of relief has been organized. "The funds belong to the government and the public and yet were handed to non-governmental agencies for distribution - namely Hindu maths and other religious organizations. This has led to caste discrimination," he alleged.
Dalits, viewed as the 'lowest caste' in India's ancient system of Hinduism, are also suffering, he said.
At a public hearing organized by Human Rights Forum for Dalit Liberation over the weekend, P. Ramesh from Bijapur district alleged that the district administration had used the floods as an excuse to demolish two slums. "Rather than help rebuild our houses, whatever remained our houses was destroyed without any notice," he claimed in remarks published in Indian media.
ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE
George said it comes at a difficult time for the Christian community in Karnataka which, he claimed, "has been subject to repeated vicious attacks."
There have been 53 documented recent cases of attacks against Christians and churches in Karnataka, he said. "Just three days ago, on 6 November 2009, a physically handicapped Christian was attacked in Shimoga District, Karnataka."
Rights groups have blamed many attacks on Hindu militants, who oppose the spread of Christianity in this mainly Hindu nation. "It is unacceptable that having had the very basic right of worship denied to Christians, now Christian flood victims have been denied basic relief necessary for survival," George added.
He said the GCIC has urged the Indian authorities to probe "the utilization of funds that were received for relief work by the State of Karnataka." He said relief should be distributed "through government channels instead of religious organizations immediately" to prevent "any further occurrences of discrimination..."
It was time, he added, to receive "Justice for all the Christian and lower caste families that have been denied relief and equitable distribution to ensure fairness."
ASSESSING IMPACT
Indian authorities were not immediately available for comment, but the Home Ministry said it was "Assessing the impact of the movement of a new cyclone" in the region.
A new cyclone would add to suffering in flood-hit Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, according to Christian missionaries in the area. "These people have lost all their livestock, lost their farms, lost their businesses. There is nothing left for them. Just trying to survive is the greatest thing right now," explained Daniel Punos, vice president of mission group Gospel for Asia (GFA) in a statement.
His organization was among several groups that swiftly responded to the flooding, which killed at least 250 people, displaced an estimated 10 million, people and destroyed over two million homes.
- Millions of people have lost their homes, fleeing with their last possessions.
NEW DELHI, INDIA (Worthy News)-- Christians already suffering of major flooding in the Indian state of Karnataka faced more difficulties Thursday November 12, amid fresh allegations that government aid is distributed mainly to "higher caste" Hindus.
The controversy emerged as Indian authorities warned Karnataka and other coastal states and territories to prepare for a new cyclone with heavy rainfall, adding to misery in a region where already hundreds of people died and millions were displaced in previous flooding.
"We are greatly distressed to note that discrimination on the basis of caste and religion has occurred in distribution of relief supplies in the state of Karnataka," said Sajan K. George, the national president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), which represents churches and mission groups.
"Christians and people of backward castes are unable to enter temple premises and collect the relief supplies in spite of having suffered the same environmental disaster," George told Worthy News and its partner agency BosNewsLife.
"In fact, instead of receiving relief supplies, Christians and other backward castes have been threatened from partaking of any of the government provided benefits."
"NUMEROUS" CASES
He said the GCIC has collected documented evidence of "numerous Christians who have been denied relief in Raichur, Karnataka" and said there have been similar reports in other regions of the state.
George linked the situation to the way the distribution of relief has been organized. "The funds belong to the government and the public and yet were handed to non-governmental agencies for distribution - namely Hindu maths and other religious organizations. This has led to caste discrimination," he alleged.
Dalits, viewed as the 'lowest caste' in India's ancient system of Hinduism, are also suffering, he said.
At a public hearing organized by Human Rights Forum for Dalit Liberation over the weekend, P. Ramesh from Bijapur district alleged that the district administration had used the floods as an excuse to demolish two slums. "Rather than help rebuild our houses, whatever remained our houses was destroyed without any notice," he claimed in remarks published in Indian media.
ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE
George said it comes at a difficult time for the Christian community in Karnataka which, he claimed, "has been subject to repeated vicious attacks."
There have been 53 documented recent cases of attacks against Christians and churches in Karnataka, he said. "Just three days ago, on 6 November 2009, a physically handicapped Christian was attacked in Shimoga District, Karnataka."
Rights groups have blamed many attacks on Hindu militants, who oppose the spread of Christianity in this mainly Hindu nation. "It is unacceptable that having had the very basic right of worship denied to Christians, now Christian flood victims have been denied basic relief necessary for survival," George added.
He said the GCIC has urged the Indian authorities to probe "the utilization of funds that were received for relief work by the State of Karnataka." He said relief should be distributed "through government channels instead of religious organizations immediately" to prevent "any further occurrences of discrimination..."
It was time, he added, to receive "Justice for all the Christian and lower caste families that have been denied relief and equitable distribution to ensure fairness."
ASSESSING IMPACT
Indian authorities were not immediately available for comment, but the Home Ministry said it was "Assessing the impact of the movement of a new cyclone" in the region.
A new cyclone would add to suffering in flood-hit Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, according to Christian missionaries in the area. "These people have lost all their livestock, lost their farms, lost their businesses. There is nothing left for them. Just trying to survive is the greatest thing right now," explained Daniel Punos, vice president of mission group Gospel for Asia (GFA) in a statement.
His organization was among several groups that swiftly responded to the flooding, which killed at least 250 people, displaced an estimated 10 million, people and destroyed over two million homes.
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I am praying for the people in India. I was there not too long ago and I attended my mother in law’s church a couple of Sundays ago. The pastor there is in the midst of helping the natives there plant churches and raising up pastors. We watched a video about the castes and how they are considered the lowest in society. It’s really awful. The Christians went to their dwellings and hosted a foot washing party where they told the castes that they are worthy, taught them about Jesus and washed their feet. I know some of the western Christians that are over there. Thanks for posting this on the boards George!
Oh the name of the church I went to was Atascadero Bible Church in California.
Heavenly Father, I can’t even begin to imagine what these people have gone through, and are still going through. I pray that you would strongly encourage the Indian government to make whatever changes they need to make in order to insure this unfair refusal of aid ceases. I lift up lost and broken homes, and broken families to you in desperate need of your healing power. May you be known as their strong tower and refuge. May you be known as their deliverer, and their Prince of peace. May souls be ministered to and won to your kingdom. In Jesus’ mighty and precious holy name,AMEN.
Praying!
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Matthew 24:9-12
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“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
I Love You LORD Jesus
“Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” Isaiah 44:6