Team News Riveting
Raipur, November 27
After an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) bureaucrat posted in Bastar division has reportedly broached concern over religious conversion in the tribal-predominated pocket of Chhattisgarh.
Taking a strong note on the reported spur in the conversion of tribals to Christianity, the 2003-batch-IAS officer G R Churendra has dispatched an official memo to the district collectors and asked to act, keeping the matter confidential, according to reports appearing in local media. He is presently posted as Divisional Commissioner of Bastar.
A fresh commotion has started over communication against conversion as this is the second such memo mailed by senior all India service official raising concern over conversion to Christianity in Bastar region. In July this year, Sukma Superintendent of Police Sunil Sharma had written a letter asking police stations to keep track of Christian missionaries.
Churendra has expressed apprehensions that conversions in Bastar division will be more sensitive in future. He has asked the district collectors to take effective action, keeping it confidential.
The Collectors have been told that the issue of conversion by the missionaries in the pretext of social service has been assuming alarming proportions. The Christian missionaries have been engaged in converting tribal society, other societies and Hindus to Christianity for a long time. “Due to this, a law-and-order situation has been created,” the letter said, adding that the issue is likely to become even more sensitive in the future.
The Divisional Commissioner. who could not be contacted by News Riveting, has reportedly asked the district authorities to seek help from the Police, Panchayat, Agriculture Education, Women and Child Development Department and Forest Departments in checking conversion activities. He also directed to prepare the list of such villages, possible families and individuals whom the missionaries are alluring.
Besides, the villagers who have not been converted should be convinced not to get influenced and continue to believe in their tradition, deities and customs. Even those who have embraced Christianity should be convinced to return to the parent and original belief.
The senior officials have been asked to visit the villages every week and get feedback from the local employees, community heads and submit a detailed report to the Tehsildar or SDM. Even the administration has been asked to keep an eye on the needy, unhealthy and the poor people whom the missionaries have contacted and provide them help according to the government guide-line.
