Church welcomes Andhra's Pro-Christian moves

(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.