AICU Raises Alarm Over Maharashtra Panel Reviewing Tribal Rights After Religious Conversion

New Delhi, July 20, 2026: The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has voiced strong concern over the Maharashtra government's decision to constitute a panel to examine Scheduled Tribe (ST) benefits in relation to religious conversion, warning that the move could undermine the constitutional rights of Adivasi communities.

In a statement issued on July 20, the Catholic lay organisation said the development appears to follow recent political messaging that seeks to revisit tribal rights through a religious lens, raising apprehensions about the future of constitutionally guaranteed protections for indigenous peoples.

The AICU alleged that organisations aligned with the RSS-BJP ideological framework have, over the years, sought to create divisions within Adivasi society by fragmenting tribal communities along religious lines. It said these efforts distinguish between followers of traditional Sarna or nature-based belief systems, those identifying with a broader Hindu identity, and those who have embraced Christianity over the past 150 years.

The organisation noted that Christian Adivasis, who form a significant section of the tribal population in several regions, have benefited from educational, healthcare and social service institutions established by the Church in some of India's most remote and underserved areas.

Expressing concern over the challenges faced by educated Christian Adivasis, the AICU said many have played a leading role in defending constitutional rights over jal, jangal, and jameen (water, forests and land). Their advocacy, it said, has often challenged the exploitation of natural resources by contractors, political interests and corporate entities without equitable benefits reaching indigenous communities.

Referring to Jesuit priest Fr. Stan Swamy, the organisation said his "life, work, and custodial death remain emblematic of this ongoing struggle for justice and dignity."

The AICU also drew attention to what it described as a historical precedent in linking constitutional safeguards with religion. It pointed to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which restricted Scheduled Caste status to Hindus before later extending it to Sikhs and Buddhists, while excluding Dalits who converted to Christianity or Islam. According to the organisation, the policy has contributed to long-standing divisions and discrimination within the Dalit community. It warned that introducing similar exclusions within the Scheduled Tribe framework could create comparable injustices among Adivasis.

AICU National President Elias Vaz called on the Maharashtra government to uphold the constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination. He urged the government to refrain from policies that divide indigenous communities on religious grounds and to ensure that tribal welfare is guided by justice, inclusion and the protection of fundamental rights rather than ideological considerations.

By Catholic Connect Reporter