Sambalpur (Agenzia Fides) - In the north east Indian state of Orissa which suffers from stirrings of nationalism and Hindu extremism, threats and discriminatory treatment does not deter Christians from serving the poor and the outcast, particularly people with leprosy and the dying.
Recently after reports that Christians had been refused entrance at certain shops and hotels and private institutions Christian leaders voiced deep concern at the situation increasingly difficult. They said citizens are being denied basic rights simply because of religious beliefs.
However this does not prevent Christians from continuing their social services with various initiatives including Homes the poorest people and those most in need, lepers and terminally ill, rejected by the rest of the population. One of these is Burgarh Mission, diocese of Sambalpur. The mission was founded in 1987 by Divine Word Missionary Fr Anthony Fleming. Today the Mission is run by Fr. John Maliekal and cares for 600 patients resident and out patients. Staff include religious sisters and lay volunteers. The Mission also has a school for 60 sick children not accepted by state schools.
In recent months Orissa has been in the news for episodes of violence against Christian families by Hindu extremists members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS, “National Vounteer Corps”), which uses violence to promote Hindu national ideology.
Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar diocese in the state of Orissa has described the situation as “unbearable: Christians are threatened and boycotted in everyday life in total indifference of civil authorities and local police” and called on all forces of good to promote the values of freedom, justice and democracy in India and the government to offer more protection for minorities in keeping with India’s pluralist traditions. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/9/2005 righe 31 parole 316)