Christian community meets tribal welfare minister, demands separate welfare board

SNS, Kalimpong. 8 January 2017: The Christian community of the hills, under the aegis of the All Christian Association (ACMA) has submitted a memorandum. don to State tribal welfare minister James Kujur demanding a separate development/ welfare 'board for Christian minorities.

Jyotima Subba, coordinator of ALMA, said the community members had learnt that the state government was forming a Pahari Minority Development Board, but we want a separate board for the Christian community.

She said, "We have requested MIC Kujur to exclude Christians from the proposed Pahari Minority Development Board as the Christian population in the hills is in majority amongst all the other minorities."

She added that the decision For their exclusion was taken in their meeting of executive committee members of the ACMA on 3rd January She said the association is the largest organisation of the Christians, which includes all the denomination that has and always will support the government. Meanwhile MIC James Kujur, who arrived hereto attend a youth convention organised by Darjeeling Diocese, which entered its third day today Over 800 youths from Sikkim, 'Darjeeling, Nepal and Bhutan participated in the convention.

Kujur appealed to the youths to stay in disciplined as they have a lot to give to the country On the memorandum given by ACMA, he said "They wanted some suggestions, we had a discussion. The final decision is for the government to make."