The Chhattisgarh state government is planning to take over control of a Christan-run health centre following allegations of forcible conversions in the facility. According to an October 19 report from Compass Direct, authorities ordered the takeover of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) facility in the village of Lundra on October 10, firing seventeen of the employees. According to one of the dismissed workers, Sister Emilina Xess, the government was jealous of the reputation that ICDS had in the community. An independent enquiry board was formed after allegations began in September 2005. In its May 2006 report, the board reported that it had been unable to find any cases of conversions connected to the facility. The facility in Lundra has been managed by the Raigarh-Ambikapur Health Association (RAHA), a Catholic organization, since 1995.
Pray that the administration of the health centre will be returned to the RAHA. Pray that the employees who have been fired will be allowed to return to work. Ask God to work in the hearts of government leaders throughout India to allow religious organizations to carry on their work unhindered.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India, click here. A video report on some of the ways VOMC is assisting Indian victims of persecution is available on the multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/.
Population
