New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Laity Council has called upon the Union Government to issue a clear policy statement regarding the proposal to designate Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis as “micro-minorities.” Speaking on behalf of the Council, Secretary Chevalier Adv. V.C. Sebastian stressed that the silence of the government on this matter has created uncertainty among several faith communities that together make up only a fraction of India’s population.
According to Sebastian, out of the six religious minorities officially notified in the country, five Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis together constitute less than 2.5 percent of India’s population. He underlined that the demographic imbalance is widening, with these groups experiencing a steady decline in numbers due to migration, assimilation, and social marginalization. This, he argued, makes the case for special recognition and targeted welfare measures all the more urgent.
“The time has come for the government to act with fairness and transparency. It is not equitable to extend minority welfare benefits disproportionately to one community whose socio-economic, political, and educational growth continues to rise, while other smaller communities are shrinking every year,” Sebastian said.
The CBCI Laity Council emphasized that the designation of “micro-minority” should not be seen as a token category, but as a substantive recognition that enables access to development schemes, educational safeguards, and social security programmes. For communities like Parsis, whose numbers are alarmingly low, or Christians in certain regions facing sharp population decline, the Council believes such recognition could play a decisive role in ensuring their continued presence in India’s pluralistic fabric.
The Council further warned that the lack of adequate measures could lead to an accelerated exodus of youth from these groups, threatening not only their demographic sustainability but also their cultural and historical contributions to Indian society.
The appeal from the CBCI Laity Council is expected to add momentum to an already simmering debate on minority protections in India, placing the onus squarely on the central government to explain whether it intends to proceed with a micro-minority framework or maintain the status quo.