By TCN News,
Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches (APFC), an apex body of the Bishops and Heads of Churches in the state, met Chief Minister Dr K. Rosaiah on May 29 and demanded allocation of 15% of Minority Funds for the Christian community in all state welfare schemes.
About 20 Bishops and Church Heads participated in the meeting arranged by the Government at the request of the APFC to discuss the pending issues. The Christian officials, namely Sri Stanley Babu IRTS (Retd), Advisor to the Govt of A.P., Sri Swarnajit Sen IPS (Retd), the Chairman of A.P. Tourism Corporation, and Sri J. Sudheer, the Managing Director of the A.P. State Christian (Minorities) Finance Corporation (APSCMFC), were also present.
The Christian delegation submitted a memorandum on the issues relating to A.P. State Christian (Minorities) Finance Corporation (APSCMFC). The stay to be vacated on the subsidies to the pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the construction of churches pending in the Supreme Court and High Court respectively was also highlighted.
“The of release of 15% of Minority Funds for Christian Community pro-rata to the population in all the welfare schemes, and the appointment of a Chairman to the APSCMFC without further delay were insisted upon,” said Fr Dr Anthoniraj Thumma, Executive Secretary of APFC.
Bishop G. Dyvasirvadam of Krishna-Godavari, the President of the APFC, presented the memorandum on the continuation of grant-in-aid to the existing posts in Christian Educational Institutions and not to abolish them when the incumbents vacate them.
In his response the CM was very positive and encouraging. He promised the Church leaders to remind the Prime Minister personally during his next visit about granting the SC status to the Dalit Christians. He assured the delegation of some financial support to the Christian Schools under the Minority Welfare as the policy to discontinue the grant-in-aid still stands.