Kochi: The Catholic Bishops' Council of India (CBCI) Laity Council will commemorate National Minority Rights Day on the 18th of this month, emphasizing the need to uphold the protection and rights of minorities as guaranteed by the Constitution. Shev. V.C. Sebastian, Secretary of the CBCI Laity Council, announced that a series of awareness programs on minority rights will be organized at various locations across the country on that day. This observance will be led by CBCI’s 14 regional councils, along with Catholic lay organizations and other Christian church groups.

V.C. Sebastian further called on the central government to establish a study committee to recognize Christians—who make up only 2.3 percent of the population—as a micro-minority and to design specific welfare schemes for their benefit. On the 18th, solidarity will be expressed nationwide in support of the legal battles being fought by Dalit Christians, who face discrimination for their Christian faith. He urged all Christian institutions and organizations across the country to join in the observance of National Minority Rights Day.