With no candidate in fray, Christians feel neglected

Jaipur: The Christian community in poll-bound Rajasthan complained of neglect from the political parties contesting Assembly polls. No political party has fielded any candidate from the community considering their smaller numbers.

The community leaders, mostly religious, said that they are witnessing political apartheid as even candidates don’t peep into areas seeking votes.

They feel that their concerns and demands don’t fit into the priorities of any political party.

An octogenarian, Michael Castelino, contested Assembly polls in 2013 from Civil Lines and got 500 votes which is way below his community vote in the seat.

He is the only candidate to have contested polls in recent years to raise the community’s concerns but failed to evoke any response.

“The community has been demanding small pieces of land for graveyards in some districts from the government. The demand is not a privilege, as they have been granting land to other religious communities. It is not being heard by the government which filled us with pain,” said Castelino.

The community has been raising the issue of protecting its institutes-schools, colleges, and hospitals. Also, a quota within the budget was granted to the minorities department. They have 210 schools and 10 hospitals being run in the state. The oldest school in St Mary’s Convent in Ajmer is 130 years old.

“Our institutes face pressure for admissions to such an extent that it sometimes becomes a law-and-order situation. It should be protected as our schools and hospitals give quality education and healthcare at nominal charges,” said Sister Geeta Carol, advisory at the secretariat of the 150-year-old Mission Sisters of Ajmer.

The organisation runs Sophia schools and colleges in North India.

The community has objections to their representatives being called for meetings but never allows them to speak their minds.

A section of our community members has written to the consecutive governments that most churches and buildings fall under the heritage category.

“The majority of the households belong to lower income groups. Religious places are not cash-rich like such places in other religions. The community resource systems are so fragile that they can’t afford restoration or repair. Like the government, every budget announces the restoration of historically important sites; it should be done with our dilapidated churches,” added Carol.

As per the Census, the population of Christians was 97,000, which was less than in the 2001 Census. The community is experiencing the migration of its youths and retired persons to the south, Mumbai, and Pune. The population of Christians is divided into three divisions: Jaipur, Ajmer, and Udaipur.

 

This article is originally published on https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/with-no-candidate-in-fray-christians-feel-neglected/articleshow/105138079.cms