KOCHI: Finance minister K M Mani's allocation of Rs 5 crore in the budget to set up a commission to find out ways to integrate 'converted Christians' into social mainstream in the backdrop of VHP's concerted Ghar Wapsi campaign has evoked mixed reactions. Converted Christians number around 20 lakh in the state.

Hindu Aikya Vedi general secretary Kummanam Rajasekharan wondered whether the government would succeed in retaining the converted people in Christianity by the Rs 5cr carrot. "Embracing Christianity has not made a difference to their social status ," said Rajasekharan.

Syro Malabar Church spokesperson Fr Paul Thelakkat pointed to the reservation rights enjoyed by scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities. "But when they embrace Islam or Christianity, the same rights are denied to them. Kerala Minority Commission had recommended what Mani announced in the budget and it is an attempt to correct an injustice done to them."

Irudaya Rajan S, professor, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, said the situation of 'converted Christians' in the state is better than the situation of dalit Hindus in education and economic background.

