An entrepreneur speaks at a meeting of Dalit Christian entrepreneurs in Chennai on Aug. 20 where they launched the Christian-Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (photo supplied)
Dalit Christians in India have launched their own chamber of commerce to help budding entrepreneurs and empower the community.
The Christian-Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was launched Aug. 20 at a meeting in Chennai. Some 150 existing and potential Christian entrepreneurs belonging to the Dalit or former untouchable communities, attended the program.
"Dalit Christians are not able improve their situation. We are not able to get government jobs because Christians of Dalit origin are not accepted in government job quotas reserved for the community," M. Maria Hartmann Raj, a entrepreneur belong to the Dalit community, told ucanews.com.
The Indian constitution allows quotas in jobs and education for Dalit people to help their social advancement, but Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin are denied this privilege on the ground that their religions do not accept the caste system. Dalit Christians' have been struggling for equality for past 65 years and have not been successful.
"So the best possible way to flourish is starting our own business," Raj said.
According to Raj the new initiative will help Dalit Christians with entrepreneurial abilities to explore opportunities and existing government schemes to start a business and link them with the already existing Dalit Chamber of Commerce and Industry to develop their business.
It is estimated that at least half of India's 25 million Christians come from Dalit and tribal backgrounds, and who are often the target of oppression and persecution.
The Catholic bishop's office for Dalit and indigenous people says this is "the best way to empower the community." The office has given the group moral support and guidance.
"The main idea of the Christian-Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is to encourage people to enter entrepreneurship. We want them to be job givers instead of job seekers," Father Z. Devasagayaraj, secretary for that office, told ucanews.com.