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By Sruthisagar Yamunan / ENS - CHENNAI
08th August 2012 07:47 AM
Can a person who had reconverted to Hinduism claim benefits reserved for Adi Dravidars? Will reconversion automatically revert them to the ‘caste’ that they belonged to before conversion?
This complex question came up through a petition at the open hearing of the NHRC on Tuesday. Satyabrata Pal, a member of the commission, sought a report from the government in this regard.
Petitioner S Rani of Kanyakumari, claimed that she had studied in a missionary school attached to an orphanage in Nagercoil. While she was a Hindu Adi Dravidar by birth, she alleged that during her days in orphanage, her religion was changed without her consent in various certificates, depriving her of benefits that a Hindu Adi Dravidar is entitled to. Therefore, she reauested to issue a Hindu Adi Dravidar certificate to her.
Responding to this, the government represented by the Secretary of the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department said that when a Hindu converts to Christianity, he or she becomes a BC member. Such a person can’t enjoy the benefits entitled for a Hindu Adi Dravidar. Decisions pertaining to this issue could be taken by a panel headed by Collector.
Issuing orders, Satyabrata Pal said it would be better if the government further elucidated on the issue and sought a report in four weeks.
Copyright © 2012 The New Indian Express. All rights reserved.
Comments(4)
In my earlier comment, it should have been +2( High School second year) and not 2...
Posted by Venkat at 08/08/2012 10:42 Reply to this Report abuse
When a political leader belonging to A party defects to B party and redefects back to A party.Can he called a B party member?
Posted by r.subramanian at 08/08/2012 11:01 Reply to this Report abuse
One should go whichever way the wind blows. If Christians are given any benefit, the claimant will stick there. As benefits are extended to Hindu Adi Dravidars she want to re-convert. If below poverty line Brahmins are extended the benefits, there will be more claimants to become Brahmins. Such is the situation in India that every one want to convert their caste or re-convert to whichever caste to whom more benefits are extended.
Posted by Pingali at 08/08/2012 21:52 Reply to this Report abuse
The problem is with the laws that denies benefits of reservation.in the event of conversion. Reservation is being used as a ploy to retain the SC/ST under Hindu fold.Change of faith is a spiritual process and has nothing to do with the economic/ social status of the person on the basis of which they are entitled for such benefits. While a caste Hindu is at liberty to change his/her religion without losing any benefit that they enjoy as a citizen of this country , by insisting that the SC/ST would lose the benefits of reservation in the event of change of religion to Islam/Christianity , we are discriminating them from the rest of the society. It is an indirect way of to ensure continuity of caste discrimination that results in keeping a large number of people subjugated for ever . Look at the perversion of Hindu society! The Caste Hindus do not want to give them equal status but would like to offer the benefits of of reservation in lieu of perpetual subjugation.! Krishnan Periye
Posted by Krishnan Periye at 08/09/2012 07:41 Reply to this Report abuse