2009-07-10 15:47:43

Financial help for Orissa's Christians


(July 10, 2009) Almost a year after the anti-Christian violence in eastern India’s Orissa state, the Union and State government have announced their intention to financially help the victims of the violence and pay for the reconstruction of destroyed churches. The Orissa state government said that it will spend 4.23 million rupees (US$ 82,000) on churches and other religious buildings. Overall the money will go to 196 buildings, churches and places of worship that belong to various Christian denominations located in Kandhamal district, the epicentre of the violence last August. Delhi announced its decision to spend 10.5 million rupees (US$ 210,000) to help 35 families who lost a member in the violence of last August. The State’s decision came after months of pressures on Orissa authorities by Christian groups, particularly Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). GCIC Chairman Sajan K George said now they will have to pursue the cases not included in the compensation package as well as protect the witnesses who have to testify in the trials against those accused of the violence as well as their families. India’s Union government joined Orissa on Saturday in pledging money for reconstruction As for the number of people killed during the anti-Christian outbreaks, Orissa authorities and Christian groups are still far apart. In addition, in the villages of Kandhamal Christians who filed charges against their attackers are still subject to death threats.







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