Dalit Catholics advance justice despite struggles

CHENNAI, Tamil Nadu (Indian Catholic News) — Despite persistent caste discrimination, the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council’s* Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes reported significant accomplishments in its 2025–2026 annual review, highlighting grassroots empowerment, political participation, and socio-economic development for Dalit Catholics.

The Commission’s vision is for “an equitable society rooted in Gospel values of human dignity, equality, and justice, ensuring the upliftment of Dalit Catholics.” Its mission is to empower communities under the “CBCI Dalit Policy” and “TNBC-TNCRI Action Plan.”

The CBCI Dalit Policy is the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India’s official framework to combat caste discrimination and empower Dalit Christians through education, employment, and inclusion. The TNBC–TNCRI Action Plan is the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council and Tamil Nadu–Pondicherry Catholic Religious of India’s roadmap for implementing that vision locally, focusing on grassroots empowerment, socio-economic development, and securing Dalit rights.

Between January 2025 and March of this year, 448 Dalit Christian People Cells (DCPCs) were active, involving more than 6,780 members. These groups met monthly to monitor discrimination and plan socio-economic wellbeing. The report noted, “members become aware of their socio, economic, Political situation, empowered through DCPC trainings.”

Women’s empowerment was a major focus. The Dalit Christian Women’s Cell expanded to 113 groups with nearly 1,700 members, while 320 Dalit women entrepreneurs were supported in self-employment initiatives, reaching more than 4,800 rural women. Collaboration with the federal Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Indian Overseas Bank provided 30 days of intensive training for 35 women, with certification and investment opportunities.

Political participation and advocacy

The Commission emphasized political empowerment through the Dalit Christian People’s Representatives (DCPR). “We have totally 420 elected representatives. Currently, 260 in power, promoting political participation and good governance,” the report stated.

In a landmark advocacy effort, more than 110,000 signatures were collected across dioceses appealing for 4.6 percent internal reservation for Dalit Christians in the Backward Class quota. The signatures were officially submitted to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretariat.

The Commission also launched a network of Non-Dalit Christian Leaders (NDCL), gathering 116 members who “speak for social justice and take a prophetic stand on the discriminations.”

Building dignity through welfare projects

Socio-economic development programs included goat-rearing schemes for widows and the physically challenged, with 20 pairs of goats distributed. Housing initiatives constructed 12 homes for the homeless in four dioceses, with 48 more sanctioned.

Youth and children benefited from scholarships, summer camps, and job placements. In collaboration with Jesuits and Salesians, more than 500 students received support for higher and technical education. Vocation promotion initiatives encouraged 46 candidates to priesthood and religious life.

Special observances reinforced awareness: Black Day rallies on August 10 demanded Scheduled Caste status rights for Dalit Christians, while Dalit Liberation Sunday in November carried the theme “Jubilee of hope begins at the margins.”

Dalit Christians, despite constitutional protections, remain excluded from government reservation benefits granted to Dalits of Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist faiths.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) are officially recognized groups in India who have historically faced social exclusion and disadvantage, and are granted constitutional protections, affirmative action, and welfare measures to promote equality and justice.

Persistent challenges remain

The report acknowledged ongoing struggles, citing “deep rooted prejudices even among priests and nuns” and practices such as separate burial grounds, funeral carts, and neglect of Dalit children in parish roles.

Yet diocesan leadership showed renewed commitment. In Sivagangai, a Diocesan General Body meeting was convened after 14 years. Coimbatore revived its SC/ST Commission, and Tuticorin celebrated the blessing of a renovated Dalit Christian church as “a prophetic witness against caste discrimination and social exclusion.”

The Commission concluded with gratitude to bishops for “encouragements shown to us to stand for equity, dignity and welfare of all with special focus on the marginalised.”

*The Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council is a regional Episcopal body enabling Latin and Oriental Catholic bishops to share ideas, deliberate on broad concerns, and address pastoral needs of the faithful. It comprises 18 Latin dioceses and four Eastern-rite dioceses, with 21 active bishops and eight retired members, assisting them especially in pastoral care and proclamation.

Read the full report.