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A letter has been written to the National commission for Scheduled Caste and scheduled Tribe and the State Commission of Scheduled Tribes in Jharkhand over the issue of large scale religious conversions among the Tribal populace in the State.

The letter written by Advocates Gautam Jha and Pankaj Kumar have stated that  Jharkhand is one of the most tribal dominated State with rich tribal culture. However due to large scale religious conversions in the state , “the Tribal culture of the state would be endangered and Jharkhand will lose its identity of tribal heritage.”

It has been pointed out that in small district of Simdega alone, there are 2,400 churches with 300 in Simdega town alone. The missionaries are involved in luring innocent tribal and converting them. Nirmal Hridya, a Christian missionary was exposed for selling children in 2018.  

Further since the rate of conversion is so high , a special investigation Team led by Deputy SP Ashok Kumar Singh was made I Jharkhand to look into the matter in 2018. The report revealed that “In Littipara block of Pakar district, conversion of tribal people is going on at large scale by alluring them with providing clothes, food grains, solar lights, goat and other things”.

“According to a report of the Criminal Investigation Department of 2016 at least 106 Christian affiliate NGOs got Rs 310 crore of foreign aid from the year 2013 to 2016 in Jharkhand”, the letter states.

It has been stated that in Jharkhand the tribal population has decreased over the years from 32 percent to 26.50 percent.

The conversion is happening by allurements and the collectorate has no information. Further no official record is being maintained. It has been state that some cases are forced conversion by NGOs hiding behind the shield of Humanitarian aid.

The lawyers have urged the Commission to take strict action against these NGO’s involved in forceful conversions and violating FCRA rules.

It has further been stated that if appropriate steps are not taken in a time bound manner, the lawyers would approach the appropriate forum for remedy.