The Catholic Church in Jharkhand has asked the state government to pass a bill for a separate code for Adivasis in the eastern Indian State.
Catholic bishops of Jharkhand, led by the Ranchi Archdiocese, on September 19 wrote to the chief minister to remind him that the Indian Constitution has given Advisasis a special status.
“The Articles 25, 29 and 342 talk about their (tribals) fundamental rights, safety and identity. Therefore, they must be provided a separate Sarna code, guaranteeing the rights of the tribal community to their language, religion, culture and a separate identity,” said the letter, signed by Archbishop Felix Toppo of Ranchi.
The Church wants the code passed during the ongoing monsoon session and ahead of the 2021 Census.
Sarna “religion” is followed by tribals in several Indian states, including Jharkhand. It is based on the concept of nature worship. Tribals in Jharkhand have long been demanding a separate Sarna religious code in the Census.