(Nov.18,2008):-The Church in India’s southern State of Andhra Pradesh has welcomed
two programs the State government announced aimed at helping Christians. On Nov. 13,
the government said it was setting up a Christian Minority Finance Corporation and
creating a separate wing for Christians in the state's minority welfare department,
UCA News reported. The finance corporation would lend money at an interest rate lower
than banks charge to help beneficiaries earn a livelihood and repay the loans.
A government notification on Nov. 13 said the schemes are attempts to respond to various
requests from Christian groups during the past year. Lingaraj Panigrahi, principal
state secretary, signed the order. The government also allotted the corporation
a budget of 2.8 million rupees (about US$57,300). Welcoming the government moves,
Archbishop Marampudi Joji of Hyderabad, the head of the Catholic Church in the state,
said the corporation will give poor Christians an opportunity to progress. He told
UCA News on Nov. 14 that Church groups have sought a welfare department for Christians
for more than a decade. "It is good the government has at least consented for a separate
cell under the minority welfare department," he said, adding that the Church would
cooperate with the government. Christians form 1.6 percent of Andhra Pradesh State's
76.8 million people. Muslims account for 9.2 percent and Hindus 89 percent.