NCCI EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER THE TROUBLED SITUATION IN KASHMIR.

The National Council of Churches in India, in its Executive Committee meeting in Chennai on August 13, 2016, has expressed deep concern over the disturbed situation in Kashmir.

It urges the central and state governments to facilitate peace in the region on the principles of justice and inclusivity. The NCCI also urges the Government to reconsider the continuance of the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Kashmir and North-East India. 

The NCCI calls upon all Churches, Regional Councils, All India Christian Organisations and Related Agencies to earnestly pray for justice and peace in Kashmir and all other troubled areas in the country.

- NCCI NEWS

NCCI CONDEMNS CONTINUING ATROCITIES ON CHRISTIAN MISSION WORKERS.

PRESS RELEASE

The National Council of Churches in India, in its Executive Committee meeting in Chennai on August 13, 2016, condemned incidents of physical attacks on Christian Mission workers in different parts of the country.

The NCCI is concerned about wanton actions taken by right wing fundamentalist forces on dedicated workers seeking to serve the society through their ministries of education, health care and life-transformation. So also the worship services conducted by them in houses of Christian families have been disrupted on the false allegation that they are converting people to the Christian faith. Such workers have been subject to much humiliation including being imprisoned on false charges.

This is indeed a violation of their basic constitutional rights of professing and practicing their religious faith. It is also a grave injustice to the selfless, loving service rendered by Christian Mission Workers to the society.

The NCCI calls upon Churches to be vigilant and to extend solidarity to all Christian workers who are engaged in responsible evangelism and mission. At the same time, the NCCI calls upon the central and state governments to ensure law and order in the society, and extend its protection to religious minorities and weaker sections of society.

- NCCI NEWS

Black Day Observance at NCCI Campus, Nagpur

All NCCI Staff members observed “Black Day” on August 10, 2016 at the NCCI Campus, Nagpur to  protest about the continual negligence of the government to the cry for the rights of Dalit Christians and Muslims in the country.  In his address, Mr. Pradip Bansrior, Executive Secretary- Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns,  highlighted the injustice related to the issue and lamented that the Civil Writ Petition 180/2004 in the Honorable Supreme Court of India praying for the deletion of paragraph 3 of the Presidential Order 1950 has been pending in the Supreme Court of India for the past 12 years, since the Government has not yet replied to the Supreme court. 

The infamous Presidential (Scheduled Caste) Order 1950 was signed on 10^th August 1950 by the then President of India, which says “No person who professes a religion other than Hinduism shall be deemed to be a member of the scheduled caste”. It was later amended to include Sikhs (1956) and Buddhists (1990) in the Scheduled Caste net. But this law has continued to keep  Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians out of the Scheduled Caste list.

The NCCI Staff members along with the Secretaries assembled in front of the NCCI Secretariat, with black ribbons pinned on their chests/shoulders and  held  Black Day posters in their hands as a mark of protest. Rev. Christopher Rajkumar hoisted a Black Flag as an affirmation of solidarity with the suffering Christians and Muslims of Scheduled caste origin.  The protest came to a close with the word of prayer by Rev. Caesar David.

Pradip Bansrior

Executive Secretary

Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns

National Council of Churches in India

A Relevant Diaconal Intervention for Youth Today

Workshop on ‘Youth for Peace’

23^rd July 2016, Aruppukottai, Virudhunagar, Tamilnadu

A one-day workshop on Relevant (Diaconal) Mission for Youth under the theme “Youth for Peace” was held on 23^rd July 2016, at Church of South India (CSI) Parish Hall, Aruppukkottai, Virudhunagar District, Tamilnadu. The Unity, Mission and Evangelism Unit and the Youth Unit of National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), the Commission on  Conflict Transformation and Peace Building Program of United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI), Christian Service Agency (CSA) and Congregation Accompanied Reformed Diaconia In Action (CARDIA) and Dept. of Communication of CSI Diocese of Madurai and Ramnad jointly organized this workshop.

More than 175 boys and girls from 10 grassroots congregations participated in this workshop. Rev. Vinolin Caleap, Director, Christian Education Department of the CSI-DMR welcomed the gathering.

Rev. Jothinayagam, the Chairman of the Local Council inaugurated the Workshop. Mr. Kasta Dip, Director, India Peace Centre, gave greetings along with a call to the youth to be the ambassadors of peace in addressing the issues that ruin peace in our societies.  

Mr. Jianthaolung Gonmei, Executive Secretary -  Youth, led the devotion on “Blessed are the Peace Makers” (Matthew 5:9). He emphasized three points: Peace Breakers, Peace Fakers, Peace Makers. He further challenged the youth to be effective instruments of peace in the society.

Rev. R. Christopher Rajkumar, Executive Secretary - Justice, Peace and Creation, led a workshop on ‘Contextual Scanning' through various cross-learning activities.  This session facilitated the participants to have a better understanding of their neighborhoods and what the injustices are that ruin peaceful and harmonious living of communities. Further he challenged the participants by asserting that since  ‘youth are the heart’ of the church,  we need to know our role and function. If we fail, the entire life of our church would be a failure.  This session challenged and encouraged the youth to stand for justice and peace with love in action.

Rev. Vinolin Caleap and Rev. Timothy Arulkumar jointly conducted an evaluation session. Rev. Ebenezer Joshua, Director, Communication Department of the CSI-DMR proposed the vote of thanks. Rev. Jothinayagam closed this workshop with a word of prayer and benediction. Ten pastors from different churches also graced this workshop with their presence and prayers.

Reported by:

Conflict Transformation and Peace Building Programme of the  United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India,

Justice, Peace and Creation and Youth Units of the National Council of Churches in India, 

Christian Service Agency and CSI Diocese of Madurai – Ramnad.

Indian Churches’ Pilgrimage of Green-justice…

The National Council of Churches in India and the Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action has jointly initiated a pilot programme with four local congregations to address the climate justice issue, thereby accompanying them in their journey towards becoming ‘green congregations’. This programme is an outcome of the National Church Leaders’ Consultation on ‘Ecumenical Diaconia at the Grassroots’ held from 24 -26 August 2015 in Bangalore. 

Since there has been a long standing concern to strengthen churches in North India, the four local congregations belonging to NCCI Member churches come mainly from this region. The four congregations are part of the Church of North India (Amritsar Diocese), Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church (Ranchi) Hindustani Covenant Church (Pune) and Methodist Church in India (Delhi Conference).

In order to launch this programme, NCCI and CASA jointly organized a workshop for the responsible persons from the above mentioned churches on ‘Congregation Based Diaconia: Towards Climate Justice’ on 3 – 4 August 2016, at CNI Bhavan, Delhi, India. There were twenty participants including women, youth, lay and clergy from these four local congregations. They will constitute the nucleus of their own congregations in implementing the climate justice programme in their respective grass-roots contexts.

This pilot programme aims at developing a mature understanding of Ecumenical Diaconia at the grassroots, and to evolve relevant diaconal and missional interventions at the local congregational level, addressing the issue of climate justice from devotional faith, theological, ministerial and missional perspectives, in the context of un-earth-friendly ‘growth’, ‘development’ and ‘globalization’ policies of the governments. The underlying principle is that of being responsible stewards of God’s ‘good’ creation.

In the course of one year, the four local congregations will start a process and cultivate a life-style of becoming green communities of love, justice and inclusivity. They will thus be expected to become torch bearers for local congregations all over the country who will follow their example.

Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, Dr. Sushant Agrawal, Ms. Ruth Yamima Kachhap, Ms. Prita Samantaroy, Mr. Sanjiv Tigga, Ms. Ekta Lall and Rev. R. Christopher Rajkumar facilitated various sessions in this workshop.

Co-ordinators:

Rev. R. Christopher Rajkumar                             

National Council of Churches in India   

Ms. Ekta Lall

Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action

World Social Forum 2016. "Another world is needed: Together it is possible"

The World Social Forum (WSF) 2016, scheduled to be held in Montreal, Canada from 9th to 14th of August 2016 on the theme “Another World is Needed: Together it is possible”. The goal of the WSF2016 is to gather tens of thousands of people from groups in civil society, organisations and social movements who believe in the construction of a better world. and want to build a sustainable and inclusive world. 

This is to inform you that, the OIKOTREE (joint initiative of WCC, CWM and WCRC) movement is committed to campaigning against the injustices around the globe though various ecumenical pilgrimages for the past over a decade. Now, Oikotree is happy in announcing its participation in the World Social Forum 2016 to raise three key issues in the struggle for building together another world that is needed and possible. These are the questions of “Land”, “A New Epistemology about Life” and “People’s Assembly of the World”. 

For your kind perusal, herewith, we attach the details of the Oikotree Workshops. Some of you may also be present in Montreal. If you are there at WSF, please join the workshops that Oikotree offers to the WSF. If not, please uphold the WSF and the participating organizations in your prayers to renew their commitments to establish and realize the world that is the need of these hours of ours. 

We also request you to share this information with all your colleagues and friends who would be participating in WSF for their reference and Solidarity. 

For more updates please visit their Website (https://fsm2016.org/en/)

Download Workshop flyer here.

Thanking you in anticipation!


Yours in Solidarity,

Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad General Secretary	Rev. Christopher Rajkumar Executive Secretary,  Justice, Peace and Creation
National Council of Churches in India

Protest and Street Theatre Campaign in Nagpur against injustices to Dalits

In  recent times,  a series of atrocities on Dalit youths and women all over India have terrorized the entire nation. NCCI's Dalit Concerns Programme and Vidarbha Centre for Labour Concerns along with Bahujan Rangbhumi thought it best to to voice out the issue in the press and take it to the streets. A Press Conference was organised at the Tilak Patrakaar Bhavan on the 28^th   July 2016. Dalit leaders and activists at the conference including NCCI Secretary for Dalit concerns, Mr. Pradip Bansrior, and Mr. Rajesh Jadhav, Coordinator, Vidarbha Centre for Labour Concerns addressed the Press and condemned the atrocities against Dalits in Gujarat, Maharashtra, UP, MP and other parts of the country. The event was duly reported by local Marathi newspapers, as well as the English Daily, The Hitavada: 



The press conference was followed on 30th July 2016 by a protest Dharna and a street Theatre depicting the atrocities on Dalits and challenging the people to rise up to the occasion. 

In spite of the heavy rains, around 200 people participated in the protest at RBI [Samvidhaan] Square, Nagpur  at 11-00. am; they came from different walks of life, religious institutions, dalit organisations, like-minded organisations and NGOs, including men, women, and youth, to show their solidarity and to fight together against injustices faced by Dalits and all marginalised sections of our society in the country.

Many Activists, Theatre artists and NGO leaders like Dr. Yashwant Manohar (Social activist), Mr. Rajesh Jadhav (Vidarbha Centre for Labour Concerns- NCCI), Dr. Dhanraj Dahat ( Ambedkarite Sahittik), Mr. E.M. Narwane ( Ambedkarite Poet), Mr. Surendra wankhede (Writer and Director), Mr. Virendra Ganvir (President of Bahujan Rangbhumi), Mr. Khemraj Bhoyar (Activist), Mr. Amit Ganvir ( Theatre artist and Activist) as well as Mr. Pradip Bansrior (Executive Secretary, NCCI Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns) addressed the gathering and urged the people not to remain silent regarding the atrocities and injustices happening in our society. Youth from different organisations along with Ms. Ngalaton Ningsen- NCCI Intern on Tribal and Adivasi Concerns, also shared their concerns and demanded stern action against the cow vigilante groups all over the country.

National Council of Churches in India congratulates Mr. Bezwada Wilson

Mr. Bezwada Wilson
(Picture Source: Indian Express - http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/bezwada-wilson-ramon-magsaysay-award-a-safai-karmachari-who-sprouted-an-andolan/)

National Council of Churches in India congratulates Mr. Bezwada Wilson, 50 year old renowned campaigner for abolition of the dehumanising practice of manually cleaning human excreta and toilets, being honoured with the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2016 for "asserting the inalienable right to a life of human dignity."

Mr. Wilson is the National Convener of the Safai Karmachari Andolan and a member of Church of South India. A Dalit born into a family of manual scavengers in Karnataka, Wilson had seen his parents clean toilets as a boy. His first questions about the inhumane system of manual scavenging, and on why only Dalits were forced to carry night soil for dumping at designated spots cropped up when he was in fourth standard in school.Being a Dalit, Wilson was discriminated against, looked down upon as a child. He was treated as an outcast in school and acutely aware of his family's lot. Although he was spared the labour of manual scavenging and given a chance to pursue higher education, the profession followed by his family and caste haunted his identity as a teenager. The profession, though outlawed by the Indian Constitution in 1993, is still the primary occupation of over 180,000 Dalit families, according to the 2011 census data. 

Wilson channeled his anger against the inhumane system into a crusade to eradicate manual scavenging. His life and work has contributed in a big way to the  movement  for eradication of manual scavenging in society. Taking cognizance of Wilson's work in emancipation of manual scavengers, the Magsaysay Award has also flagged manual scavenging as a dehumanizing practice that must be eradicated. This award aims at detaching manual scavenging and sanitary work from Dalits, in the larger context of reforming the caste system, by pushing government agencies to replace manual scavenging with mechanization.

Pradip Bansrior

Executive Secretary

Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns

National Council of Churches in India

NCCI welcomes new interns for 2016-2017. Interns Orientation Workshop conducted.

The National Council of Churches in India welcomes new interns for 2016 - 17. These young people have come from different regions and backgrounds. During their time at NCCI, it is hoped that they would explore various concerns, learn and contribute to the strengthening of the ecumenical movement in India.

Ngalaton Ningsen

Ngalaton is from Nagaland and is an intern for Tribal and Adivasi concerns. She has done her B.D. from Bishop’s College, Kolkata in 2016. She has earlier worked as a secretary in Evangelical Union ministry at Patkai, Sunday school staff in Senakeithei village, Manipur, and has been a member of Nagaland Singing Ambassadors Choir. She is seeking for an opportunity from NCCI to explore herself in the best possible way, to have a wider picture of Tribal and Adivasi concerns beyond North East India which she believes will be of great benefit and help for her future M.Th. studies.

V. Shitovi Sema

Shitovi is intern for  Youth concerns. He is from Dimapur, Nagaland and has done his M.Th. in Missiology  from Aizawl Theological College in 2016 and B.D.  from Easter Theological College in 2013. He served Dimapur Sumi Baptist Church as a Youth Coordinator (Voluntary service) in 2013-2014. He is a worship leader of his church. He want to improve his skills in programme strategies, social analysis, communication, inter-personal mission and evangelism,  and leadership.

Statement condemning atrocities against Dalits by cow vigilante groups in Una, Gujarat

Almost 24 dalits have attempted to end their lives since July 11, 2016. Violent protests by Dalits have been taking place in Gujarat demanding stern action against the cow vigilante group members who publicly flogged a Dalit family and brutally beaten up seven Dalit men for allegedly skinning a dead cow in Una in Gir Somnath district of Saurashtra region on July 11, 2016. The victims' contention was that they were just skinning a dead cow and had not killed it, whereas the accused alleged these dalits were involved in cow slaughter.

As many as 200 cow vigilante groups have sprung up Gujarat. They have become a law and order problem in Gujarat because of their aggression and the way they take law into their hands. With names such as Gau Raksha Samiti, Gau Raksha Ekta Samiti, they have percolated from taluka to even village level and the groups take law into their hands to deal with minorities and Dalits who run meat businesses.

However, with growing anger among the Dalit communities  all over India, the  Una police inspector and an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) in charge of the area where the alleged incident had taken place, have been suspended. Facing flak for the incident, the Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel met the dalit victims’ family at Mota Samadhiyala village in Una tehsil of Gir-Somnath district, and promised them all possible help. The Chief Minister has ordered a CID inquiry in the matter. She also announced that a designated court will be set in consultation with the High Court for speedy trial in the matter. She has asked  a Special Public Prosecutor to take up the case, adding that the investigating officer has to submit the charge sheet to the court in 60 days.

National Council of Churches in India bids churches and religious institutions to condemn such atrocities against dalits.

It calls upon the National Human Rights Commission to direct the State government to shut down such vigilante groups.

Furthermore the state authorities are strongly urged to cultivate a culture of justice and love for all in the country, ensuring that dalits,  tribals/adivasis, indeed all marginalized sections of society are given due respect and rightful opportunities for their life and livelihood. 

Pradip Bansrior                                                        Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad
Executive Secretary                                                           General Secretary 
Dalit and Tribal/adivasi Concerns                National Council of Churches in India
National Council of Churches in India