Separate parliamentary and legislative seats, land for cemeteries, and scholarships are among 20 demands Christian groups in Telangana have put forward to political parties in the southern Indian state.

The Telangana State Federation of Churches, Telangana Council of Churches, and Synod of Telangana, representing the entire Christian community in the state, met in the state capital of Hyderabad in early October. They decided to ask the parties to include their demands in their manifestos as the state prepares for the November 30 assembly elections.

The demands are significant enough to be incorporated into the manifestos of political parties, according to Montfort Brother Varghese Theckanath. He was part of a delegation that met Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal in New Delhi on October 12 to present the Telangana Christians’ declarations to political parties.

“We are presenting this to all political leaders,” the Brother told Matters India on October 14.

Father Raju Alex, deputy secretary of the Telugu Catholic Bishops’ Council, stated to the Deccan Chronicle that the Christian community has consistently lacked the government’s encouragement and support. “The Christian community has a substantial number of voters in Telangana. We will support the parties that stand for us,” he added.

The community desires political parties to provide two tickets to Christians for the assembly election and two Member of Legislative Council seats.

“One ministerial berth in the state cabinet should be reserved for Christians. Four chairpersons’ positions for various corporations should also be reserved for Christians. When nominating co-opted members in local bodies, Christians should be considered and proportionately represented,” is the community’s demand.

The Christian community also wants the parties to ensure that they allocate one seat each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for Christians.

Christians in Telangana want parties to promise to pass legislation for a sub-plan for their minority community. This plan should not be allocated in proportion to the population but should cover education, healthcare, employment, skill development, welfare schemes, and burial.

The community seeks two minority residential schools for its students entrusted to Christian organizations or missionaries in the field of education in each of the ten old combined districts.

Another demand is that all educational scholarships should be granted before the beginning of the academic year, and overseas scholarships should be provided before the student leaves for abroad.

The demands include allotting 5 percent of housing for the weaker sections to eligible Christians and providing them with 600,000 rupees as housing subsidies for those who own plots.

The community wants the parties to revive financial assistance started under “New Schemes” and release funds to Christians to manage old age homes, orphanages, medical centers, community halls, and educational institutions.

The Christian Minority Finance Corporation should consist only of Christians, including its chairperson and board directors.

The community wants a legal cell set up in the corporation, comprising a retired police officer, a lawyer, and three Christian members.

The parties should agree to establish a helpline to respond to distress calls from Christians and to address attacks on Christians, priests, pastors, missionaries, nuns, and religious persons, as well as encroachment on Christian properties.

The parties should ensure that Dalit Christians receive Scheduled Caste status in the state and pursue the matter with the federal government.

The Christian groups want the parties to establish a Skills Development Centre in all district headquarters to train their youth in various skills and create employment opportunities.

They want the parties to involve Christian groups in completing the construction of the Christian Bhavan on the allotted land before Christmas 2024.

Other demands include an honorarium for pastors and priests, similar to the now bifurcated Andhra Pradesh state, and providing them with health and accidental insurance of 500,000 rupees, as well as a subsidy for Christians for a Holy Land tour.

The Christian groups want the parties to allocate 100 acres within city limits for modern graveyards, allot 10 acres of burial land in all district headquarters, and 2 acres of burial land in every mandal. Every cemetery should be provided with a hearse for funeral services.

They also seek to have free water and electricity provided to churches and cemeteries.

“We hope you will take these important proposals of the Christian community seriously in the interest of justice, so that the needs of this community that makes important contributions in the field of education, health care, and social welfare are addressed, and their voices are heard in the State of Telangana,” states the Christian groups’ declaration.