NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Rediff Shopping

Shop & gift from thousands of products!   Books     Music       Apparel   Jewellery   Flowers   More..      Safe Shopping

Fresh conversions cause tension in Orissa

Bibhuti Mishra in Bhubaneswar

Conversions and re-conversions are once again causing tension in the Mayurbhanj district of Orissa.

Despite the Orissa government's directions to the district administration to strictly implement the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, which requires an advance notice before a conversion, people continue to jump faiths - sometimes voluntarily, sometimes under duress.

Four tribals of Baiguda and two from Bagdapha a few days back adopted Christianity without informing the district administration as required under the OFRA.

In another village, two tribals returned to the Hindu fold. They too did not give any notice of their intention to reconvert.

Both Baiguda and Bagdapha are located in inaccessible areas of the district where hunger, poverty and disease are synonyms for life. It is often alleged that Christian missionaries and campaigners of Hindutva lure tribals with promises of a better life.

"Hindu organisations and Christian missionaries take advantage of the acute poverty and illiteracy. Unless the government does something to improve their lot the situation would not improve," says Manmohan Kundu an NGO activist.

Recently in Bagdapha some tribals raided a church and threw away the cross. In Ramachandrapur and Mahudiha tribals have opposed the construction of churches.

Though the district administration at Keonjhar claims it has no knowledge of any fresh conversions, officials admit that it is impossible to keep track of such developments in remote areas. "If any specific cases are brought to our notice, we will take action," said a senior officer.

ALSO SEE
Dara Sena spreads terror in Mayurbhanj
70 Christians reconvert to Hinduism in Manoharpur

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report