With the Kerala Assembly elections just a month away, the state Cabinet headed by CM Pinaray Vijayan, on March 10, decided to recognise Pentecostalism as a Christian sub-sect, a move that is being viewed as politically significant. It is believed that the decision aimed at making inroads into various Christian denominations, particularly the Pentecostal community, ahead of the upcoming polls.
The Cabinet has resolved to appoint a three-member committee consisting of Biswanath Singh, T.V. Anupama and Jeromic George, all IAS officers, to study the issues being faced by the Scheduled Castes Converted to Christianity (SCCC), including Pentecostal Christians and converted Christians.
Pentecostal Council of India (PCI), the apex body of different Pentecostal Churches in the country, welcomed the government’s decision as a “historic move”. He said that the decision followed the meeting between PCI office bearers and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the latter’s official residence.
Aji Kulangara, national coordinator of the PCI, told the media that the government decision is pleasant news to all Pentecostal churches. He said that, at present, caste certificates issued by village officers to their community members merely state that they are Christians, while those issued to other sections like Catholic or Orthodox include the name of the sub-sect. Aji Kulangara added that there are 25 to 30 Pentecostal Churches in Keralam with around 25 lakhs followers in all.
United Pentecostal Synod said that the formal status ensures the community’s full integration into the Christian minority sector. It allows its members and churches to claim all state and central minority benefits, scholarships and protections under Article 30 of the Constitution.
A senior Pentecostal scholar speaking to “Organiser” said that Pinarayi Vijayan is not hopeful of a third successful term, so he is frantically trying to woo the Pentecostal community.
He told, on the condition of anonymity, that at the moment 25% of the country’s population belongs to Christianity, and the majority of them are Pentecostal believers. He says that even though, at first glance, churches belonging to other major denominations are large in numbers, Pentecostal believers are very high in numbers.
“Organiser” spoke to another senior functionary of a Pentecostal Church. He told, again on condition of anonymity, that this Cabinet decision does not make any difference. He says that if the caste certificate shows SC or ST, it would be useful. But converted SC would not get any benefit. Only ST are the beneficiaries. He views the new decision as nothing but an election stunt.
Interestingly, there is the Kerala State Development Corporation for Christian Converts from Scheduled Castes and the Recommended Communities Limited, established in 1980 to promote the socio-economic and educational upliftment of SC members who converted to Christianity. It is a government-owned community.
