Catholic priest awarded for work in Orissa

The national Minority Rights Award was conferred on Fr. Ajay Singh.

By Ritu Sharma
New Delhi:  India's top watchdog body for minority rights today awarded a Catholic priest for his work to ensure rights for the victims of anti-Christian violence in Orissa.

The national Minority Rights Award was conferred on Father Ajay Singh, a priest of Cuttuck-Bhubaneswar archdiocese at a function held in New Delhi.

The award recognizes the priest's work to secure the human and social rights of the victims of the 2008 anti-Christian violence in Orissa's Kandhamal district.

Somnath Chatterjee, former speaker of the lower house of the parliament, conferred the award on the priest. The award carries a cheque of 200,000 rupees (US$ 3333) and a citation.

The National Commission for Minority Rights organized the program to mark the Minority Rights Day in the country.

“Kandhamal was a national tragedy. Efforts are going on the restore life as usual in that area but there has not been full rehabilitation after so many years of the riots,” Commission chairperson Wajahat Habibullah told ucanindia.in

He said the Catholic priest was the primary person working for the cause of minorities in that area “He has given a distinguished contribution in terms of minority welfare in that area,” he added.

Kandhamal was the epicenter of anti-Christian violence in Orissa, which claimed some 100 lives and displaced 50,000 in a seven week-long violence since August 2008.

Groups of Hindu fanatics looted, burnt or destroyed thousands of houses, 250 churches and scores of Christian institutions, besides attacking and raping several women, one of them a nun.

Few of the perpetrators were arrested; many are still free on bail.

“The award comes on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the violence and the long pursuit of justice. We see the award in affirmation that the justice would be done to the victims and the government of India is committed to it,” said John Dayal, a lay leader who is also working for the victims.

Dayal said government ensure the reparation and rehabilitation of the riot victims and justice to the rape victims. This award puts Kandhamal "into the center stage and the spotlight on minority rights in the country,” Dayal said.

Father Singh also expressed hope that the award will help put attention again on the hundreds of victims of violence, who continue to seek justice.