Sun Feb 09 13:17:24 UTC 2025: ## Syro-Malabar Church Condemns Government Neglect of Christian Community in Kerala

**Kottayam, Kerala – February 9, 2025** – The Syro-Malabar Church has issued a strongly worded circular criticizing both the central and state governments for their perceived neglect of the Christian community in Kerala. The circular, read in all parishes under the Changanassery Archdiocese on Sunday, precedes a planned protest march by Christian farmers on February 15th.

Archbishop Mar Thomas Tharayil’s statement accuses the government of ignoring the significant contributions of Christians to Kerala’s development. The circular highlights the plight of farmers in Kuttanad and the high ranges, struggling with climate change and wildlife incursions, exacerbated by a lack of government support. It further expresses concern over the deteriorating condition of Christian-run educational institutions, once renowned for quality aided education.

The Church also criticized the government’s decision to schedule Christian holy days as working days and its continued delay in addressing the long-standing demand for reservations for Dalit Christians – a demand dating back 74 years. The failure to publish the Justice Benjamin Koshy Commission Report, submitted in May 2023, which proposed measures to uplift economically disadvantaged Christian minorities, was also condemned.

Archbishop Tharayil emphasized the Church’s role in advocating for marginalized communities, stating, “At a time when mainstream political parties view people’s problems through the narrow lens of vote-bank politics, we have a duty to be the voice and presence of those marginalized.” The protest march, Karshaka Nasrani Munnettam, is expected to draw significant attention to these concerns.

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