Orissa Freedom of Religion Act: The conversion debate

Bhubaneswar, August 27: Last weekend, communal violence rocked Orissa after a group of masked gunmen killed VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati (84), who was known for his campaign against conversion of tribals to Christianity. As the Christian community was attacked in the state, the alleged conversion of tribals in the its backward pockets was back in focus. It was the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, enacted in 1967, which sought to regulate forced or manipulative conversion. A look at the Act:

•The origin

Post-independence, Orissa was the first state to enact a law prohibiting conversion from one religion to another by using force, allurement, through inducements like gifts or gratification and grant of any benefit, either pecuniary or otherwise, or by fraudulent means. The Act was enacted in 1967 by the Rajendra Narayan Singhdeo government.

•What it says

Punishment pertaining to the violation of the Act makes one liable for imprisonment that may extend to one year, with or without fine, which may be up to Rs 5,000. The Act prohibited conversion of anyone under the age of 18. For conversions involving persons below the age of 18, a woman, or a person belonging to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, the punishment was for two years and fine was up to Rs 10,000.

The offences will not be investigated by an officer below the rank of a police inspector. The prosecution has to be made with the sanction of the district magistrate. Under the Act, each district magistrate has to maintain a list of religious organisations propagating religious faith in the district. The district magistrate, if he thinks fit, may call for a list of persons receiving benefits either in cash or in kind from religious organisations or institutions or from any other person.

Any person intending to convert needs to give a declaration before a first class magistrate, prior to such conversion that he intends to do so on his own accord. The priest will have to intimate the date, time and place of the ceremony where conversion would take place, along with the names and addresses of the persons to be converted, to the concerned district magistrate 15 days prior to the said ceremony in a prescribed form. The district magistrate has to maintain a register of conversion and enter particulars of the intimation received by him. The district magistrate by the 10th of each month needs to send to the Government a report of intimations pertaining to such conversions.

... contd.

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right of conversion by amaresh rout on 2008-09-11 17:18:36.214048+05:30
it is not possible to check the forced conversion by enacting the law only. in the last 3 decades not a single case has been registered. it does not shows that forced or inducement conversion is not taking place. why only the poor are converting, why the missionaries are paying them. it is the global fund which is the cause of conversion

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Right to propagate Religion by Ivo da C.Souza on 2008-09-10 23:46:48.682678+05:30
The Indian Constitution in the article 25(1) grants the right to proclaim the tenets of Religion by preaching as well as by doing good. Conversion is the deed of God himself and of response of the person to the call of God. Let the State not interfere in it. The reason behind the Freedom of Religion Act (1967) seems to be the fear of the Dalit empowerment. The Church works for the rich as well for the poor. No power on earth can ever curtail the right to do good...

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Conversions by force by Ivo da C.Souza on 2008-09-10 23:38:07.516831+05:30
Freedom of Religion Act (1967) should not curtail the innate right of any human being to follow the religion of his/her choice. Doing good is the duty of every human being. When the Christian missionaries work for the upliftment of the poor tribals, they can always opt for the Christian religion, where they have found love and dignity. No State or Police Inspector can enter into his conscience. This is not fraud, not allurement. If we want social development of India and peace, let us be sensitive to the human rights. Any aggression against the minorities is a violation of human rights. It is enslavement of dalits. India is quite known for it from times immemorial. Let us be open to a new vision...

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legal Action coversion

by Prabir Kumar pattnaik on 2008-10-16 08:36:45.206117+05:30
It is not clear when the SP of Nowrangpur arrested 21 pasters for alleged conversion.It is generally alleged that money power is involved in conversion. Will the state government release a statement as to how many conversions have taken in orissa from 1967 to this date and how many permissions have been accorded by the concerned District collectors. Further, the state should also infor the public the quantum of landed property allotted to different religious sects since 1947. Do public institutions managed by different religious sects submit their income and expenditure to the state government for information.

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