By DCD Reporter
Kumbakonam: The Dalit Christians need to be empowered socially, politically and economically. They have to become entrepreneurs and to be treated equally, says Lawrance, president of Romero Entrepreneurs and Drivers Welfare Association.
This association was registered a few months ago by Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) Commission, Kumbakonam Diocese, Tamil Nadu, south India.
It was named after Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero (1917 – 1980). He was the fourth Archbishop of San Salvador, Latin America. He spoke out against poverty and social injustice. He was canonized on October 14, 2018.
Father Kulandainathan, the then SC/ST Commission secretary for Kumbakonam diocese initiated the process and the present secretary Father Albert Xavier helped the auto, car and truck drivers to register it as an association.
The purpose of this welfare association is to implement the Dalit Empowerment Policy and to empower the marginalized and encourage the Dalit Christians to become entrepreneurs, says Father Xavier.
This welfare association recently celebrated New Year by inviting Bishop Antonysamy Francis of Kumbakonam and helped three poor families.
The initiative to empower Dalit Christian entrepreneurs is a dream a reality in the light of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Policy for the Dalits on December 13, 2016.
“Special attention and care should be given to sub-groups among Dalits in all the training, admissions, appointments and entrepreneurship endeavours,” says CBCI Dalit Empowerment Policy 98 J a).
