29 September 2022, New Delhi

 

 

 

NCC Delegation Meets with the Central Minister Shri John Barla to apprise him about the issues that Christians are facing.

 

 

 

The Aide-Memoire about this meeting:

 

 

https://nationalcouncil.in/mma/aidememoir29sept22.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aide-mémoire

Meeting with the Honorable Minister of Minority Affairs

Government of India 

 

Shri John Barla ji 

 

29 September 2022   New Delhi

Of National Christian Council Leaders

 

                        Our Ref: https://nationalcouncil.in/mma/aidememoir29sept22.pdf 

 

Shri John Barla Honorable Minister of Minority Affairs (MoS), Govt. of India (https://www.minorityaffairs.gov.in/ ) met with Christian leaders of National Christian Council (NCC) (https://nationalcouncil.in/necleader) that was led by the NCC Delhi & NCR (UT) President Rev. Victor Das and all NCC office bearers from Andhra Pradesh State including the State General Secretary, Bro. Manoj Bob, State Regional Chairman Bishop Paul Prasad, State Coordinator Rev. G. Timothy Raju and other dignitaries.  (please see appendix 1 below for all the names and their designations)

 

The meeting was very cordial and detailed to discuss the affairs pertaining to Christian Community in today’s India. It was very productive as we went  through several details.

 

Here are a few highlights of the meet:

 

1. The Delegation thanked the Minister and apprised him of the 26th Chapter of NCC launched the day before yesterday (27th September 2022) in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the presence of several leaders from other states including Rev. Victor Das from Delhi, Archbishop Swaminadulu from Chhattisgarh, Bishop Surja Masih from Punjab, Mr. Alavala Karunakar of Telangana, Rev. Dr. Victor Emmanuel & Bishop Prasad Paul and several other key leaders from Andhra Pradesh.

2. The Honorable Minister gave a very patient hearing and had made vital remarks to be adhered to, here are a few of the many pertinent remarks the Minister made. 

3. The Honorable Minister reassured that he is very keen to visit Andhra Pradesh and to interact with Christian leaders in Andhra Pradesh. 

4. He showed us the pictures of various leaders like Abdul Kalam and others and encouraged us that we should dream big and produce more leaders from the Christian Community in the fields of science, business, politics,  etc. 

5. When we say Christian Community it is both the Catholic and Protestant. 

6. The current government schemes that exist are not fully utilized in several places and that NCC and other organizations and Churches should ensure  that the information about the schemes reach all the nook and corners.

7. The response from the field will be good if leaders from the field indicate what the needs of the community are, then other schemes too could be introduced. The Honorable Minister requested to bring such needs to his notice and that he will evaluate the subject and consider the same to be formed into a govt. scheme. 

8. The Minister strongly encouraged all the leaders to use internet to know and to propagate the schemes of the govt and not to miss them by less use of Internet and technology

9. Several areas there are no leaders to present the schemes to the people and he requested that those areas be identified and people in those areas to be given full information to utilize the schemes. 

10. As a part of this exercise the Honorable Minister had consented to visit the State of Andhra Pradesh to meet with all denominational heads and key organizations from both streams of Catholic and Protestant background.  The Ministry will intimate the same to the AP Chief Minister and NCC will facilitate this meeting either in Vijayawada or in a suitable city for all to participate.

11. Honorable minister was very happy to meet the delegation of NCC leaders from Andhra Pradesh and expressed his happiness over their presence and was very glad with the wide range of issues brought out regarding the Christian community.

12. Prayers were offered for the nation and the visiting Bishops and leaders of NCC prayed for the Minister of Minority Affairs Shri John Barla led by: 1. Bishop Prasad Paul, 2. Rev B David Raju & 3. Rev V V Samuel Jyothi. Prayed for  the Minister's good health and that he be blessed with all the needed wisdom to serve the Christian community well and efficiently.

13. Sumptuous lunch was served to the delegation in the M.P.’s Canteen. 

Appendix 1- Complete List of NCC Leaders that were part of the Delegation