Aims and Objectives
The ST Welfare Wing exists to provide more focused approach on the integrated socio-economic and spiritual development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs), one of the most underprivileged of the Indian Society, in a coordinated and planned manner. There are several aspects that needs to be understood to achieve this. A synopsis study of the main problems that Indian Tribals face will help to think clearly about them and about their issues with a little clearer understanding.
The main problems the tribals face are:
- They possess small and uneconomical landholdings because of which their crop yield is less and hence they remain chronically indebted.
- Only a small percentage of the population participates in occupational activities in the secondary and tertiary sectors.
In short, the main problems of the tribals are poverty, indebtedness, illiteracy, bondage, exploitation, disease and unemployment. The false theory that International and Indian media subscribed and widely circulated was that tribals were exploited by Christian missionaries. They say that in several tribal areas, mass conversion to Christianity had taken place in the past. While the missionaries have been pioneers in education and opened hospitals in tribal areas, they are falsely accused and blamed saying that they have been responsible for alienating the tribals from their culture. Even the Christian missionaries were charged with another severe false allegation that many a time they instigated the tribals to revolt against the Indian government. This is all ill conceived baggage of the few so called analysts that have failed to see the development that the gospel has brought to the Tribals. Bringing them into the mainstream society through their educational institutions and giving them a healthy life and life itself through the missionaries’ hospitals. Several examples can be quoted about the yeomen services of the missionaries to the tribals. But we will just see one example of that.
In the famous magazine National Geographic, Brook Larmer Write:
Larmer asked a question: “How did they turn this land of former headhunters into the most Baptist region in the world, a place where American hymns and gospel music have displaced the beating of log drums?
American Baptists came to north eastern India in the 1830s, ...The first American to risk his head in Naga territory itself, however, was New Yorker Edwin W. Clark. In 1872, after baptizing the first group of Nagas at a lowland mission, Clark moved to an Ao Naga village—and stayed there, with his wife, for nearly 40 years. The Clarks opened a mission school that trained Nagas, mostly members of the Ao tribe, to evangelize in remote areas where foreigners were not welcome.”
Larmer also mentions this in his article:
“According to the Nagas’ animist beliefs, human skulls possessed a life force that could ensure the prosperity of crops, animals, and tribal clans.
When Wangnao a Naga man recalls his first raid, he shows no misgivings about the tender age of his victim—“Every head has power,” he says—and focuses on the ecstatic reception he and his fellow warriors received upon their return to Hongphoi.”
To these head-hunters the missionaries came and united the many smaller tribal groups by one common language English. Committed to their overall development the missionaries have succeeded by risking their lives to turn the head-hunters into a people believing in God and loving Him and loving their neighbour.
This is just one historical and living example. This process is experienced by the many tribal’s in many parts of North India and in Gujarat and in several other states throughout India. The media and some scholars till continue to accuse missionaries of spoiling the Tribal culture without any valid proof or exaggerating some small issue making it into a mountain. Cultures do evolve over time and take on more healthier and positive change for the better.
So the ST Welfare Wing will seek to address the holistic development of Tribals and for preservation of their primitive culture while allowing healthy, reasonable reform in the beliefs and practices to a rational and progressive and fulfilling ones. This Wing will be focusing on their socio economic and spiritual areas without neglecting any of these:
MAJOR ACTIVITIES OF ST WELFARE WING
Following the example of Shadow Minister appointed by the leader of opposition in some countries’ parliamentary system the NCC National, State and District Wing leaders fulfil the responsibility of scrutinizing (closely examining) the work of the government department and individual ministers. Each Shadow Minister concentrates on the work of a particular minister and a government department. They thoroughly understand the department that they “shadow” and make necessary suggestions and bring up issues that needs to be highlighted. So the NCC ST Welfare Wing President will be a Shadow Minister to:
- State ST Welfare Wing will meet two or three times a year
- One or two major state wide programs should be conducted for STs.
- The State ST Welfare Wing President should recommend District leaders of the Wing to the NCC District President who will appoint them for suitable positions in the District ST Welfare Wing.
- ST Welfare Wing District Committee will meet thrice a year to plan out it’s individual strategies and
- Events should be planned for the Districts’ ST people in the areas of sports, empowerment seminars, quiz, competitions etc.
- The State ST Welfare Wing President or his nominee of the ST Welfare Wing should travel to all the Districts motivating the STs to develop and to progress by blending into the mainstream society.
- Issues of importance pertaining to the Tribal Community’s development should be brought to light and given wide publicity about.
- The Issues faced by the Tribal Communities around the State should be brought to the notice of National Christian Council and to the relevant Govt. departments as required.
- The NCC ST Welfare Wing Office bearers should be in constant touch with the State and Central Commissions for the STs. Or any official authorities set up for the STs.
- Network with other Christian agencies that have a division for ST Welfare and Empowerment.
- Plan for immediate action where the atrocities on Tribals take place which might include:
- Ensuring the proper cases are booked under appropriate laws of the SC/ST atrocities prevention Act.
- To sensitize the Church to accept and integrate the Tribal believers into the Church membership and also give them key leadership positions.
- Informing the Local Police and Political leaders.
- Informing the Central SC/ST commission or State Government officials as appropriate
- Writing to submit to the National Human Rights Commission about each incidence of violence on them.
- To sensitize the Church to accept and integrate the Tribal believers into the Church membership and also give them key leadership positions.
