Honourable members of the Justice Balakrishnan Commission, we present to you an urgent and compelling matter that affects the lives of millions of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims in India. Despite the promises enshrined in our Constitution, these communities continue to face caste-based discrimination, untouchability, and socio-economic disadvantages that are deeply rooted in historical injustices and social stratification.

The Constitution of India, under Articles 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, and 25, pledges to ensure equality, non-discrimination, protect against untouchability, and guarantee freedom of religion. These articles aim to promote an inclusive society where every citizen, regardless of their religious beliefs or caste background, can live with dignity and as equals. However, the denial of Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims solely based on their religious affiliations stands in stark violation of these constitutional principles, morality, and the foundational ideals of social justice.

Caste-based discrimination does not vanish upon conversion. The social realities faced by Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims remain analogous to those experienced by their Hindu counterparts who are granted SC status. This denial not only perpetuates inequality but also exacerbates their struggles for economic and educational upliftment, leaving them more vulnerable within the socio-economic fabric of the country.

The statistics and studies consistently highlight the injustices faced by converted Dalits in socio-economic aspects such as employment, literacy, health outcomes, and access to resources. The socio-economic indicators for these groups often remain deplorable and require immediate and decisive intervention through policy changes.

Sociological data compiled by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) reveals a stark reality: over 60% of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims continue to face severe spatial segregation, separate burial grounds, and systematic denial of access to common village water sources. Furthermore, multi-state field studies demonstrate that despite changing their faith, converted Dalits register lower literacy rates (averaging 10-15% below national averages) and face up to a 40% deficit in formal public employment compared to non-Dalit minorities. 

This systemic socio-economic disparity is compounded by a catastrophic denial of legal justice when these communities face violent caste atrocities. A definitive example of this legal vulnerability is the landmark case of Chinthada Anand vs. State of Andhra Pradesh. In this case, a Dalit Christian pastor was subjected to brutal assault and explicit casteist slurs by dominant-caste perpetrators; yet, the legal system quashed proceedings under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, ruling that conversion resulted in an immediate forfeiture of SC protections. This judicial precedent exposes a painful paradox: a converted Dalit remains vulnerable to the practice of untouchability and physical violence in the eyes of the oppressor, yet is stripped of statutory protection and legal remedy by the State, leaving thousands of victims entirely defenseless.

By acknowledging and recommending SC status for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, the Commission will uphold the true spirit of the Constitution and rectify a longstanding injustice. This move will facilitate better access to reservations and affirmative action policies, enable socio-economic mobility, and nurture cohesiveness in a diverse society.

We earnestly request you, revered members of the Commission, to recognize the plight of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims and recommend granting them Scheduled Caste status. Such a just and ethical decision will significantly contribute to the realization of an equitable and harmonious nation.

Please join us in this vital petition to address and amend a deeply ingrained inequity. Sign this petition today to champion true equality and justice for all citizens of India.

There many illiterate adults who can not read and write, can not sign petitions such as these. Their conversation to religion other than Hinduism, never changed their real lives, day to day suffering.

Each letter here represent thousands of such people