Demand to deny reservation benefits to tribals who have converted to Christianity

• Demand by the ‘Tribal Security Forum’ in Ranchi, Jharkhand

• Further demand to expunge the names of converted tribals from the Scheduled Tribes list

• Converted tribals receive financial assistance as ‘Minority Christians’ and additional support from the church

Ranchi (Jharkhand) – There is a nationwide call to remove the names of converted tribals from the Scheduled Tribes list and to deny them reservation benefits. Thousands of Hindu tribals from across the country are set to convene in Delhi to advocate for these demands. On 24th December, approximately 5,000 tribals gathered in Ranchi to uphold this cause. The ‘Tribal Security Forum’ is actively uniting all Hindu tribals in the country on a single platform. The leaders of the ‘Tribal Security Forum’ stated that tribals who have converted to Christianity are receiving financial aid from churches and missionaries, while their children are availing educational opportunities. In contrast, tribals who have converted to Christianity are deemed to be in a more advantageous position due to the financial aid and educational opportunities they receive from churches and missionaries. Converts are receiving funds from abroad through the church and are also benefiting from reservation privileges and government schemes targeted at minorities. This is a contradiction and against the law.

Despite converted tribals constituting only 20% of the population, they hold 90% of the Government jobs acquired through reservation benefits – as noted by the former Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. During the rally in Ranchi, the former Deputy Speaker, Kariya Munda, remarked, “While the conversion rate among tribals stands at 15 to 20%, their disproportionate representation in Government employment, especially among Class One officers, extends up to 90% in contrast to the overall tribal demographic.”