Anglo-Indians protest discrimination in Kerala

Kochi, Jun 30 (UNI) The Anglo-Indian community today expressed serious concern over the ''discrimination'' shown by the Kerala Government and the Latin Catholic hierarchy against it.

Participating in the State Convention of Anglo-Indians here, the community leaders urged the Kerala Government to restore the clubbing of the community with Latin Catholics for the purpose of education and job reservation.

Anglo-Indian Rights Protection Council Convenor Kevin D'Rozario said that the community had been excluded from the two per cent reservation in educational institutions for Latin Catholics whereas the community was counted as part of the Latin Catholic community for assessing its population in the state.

Similarly, in job reservation, the Anglo-Indians had been excluded from the four per cent reservation for Latin Catholics and clubbed with the SUCI community, which considerably reduced their chances of getting jobs.

Inaugurating the meet, Kerala Forests Minister Benoy Viswom assured all possible help to the community for securing its just demands.

The inaugural session was presided over the president-in-chief of the Union of Ango-Indian Associations Leslie Bivera.

The convention also passed a resolution to appoint an Episcopal Vicar for Anglo-Indians in the Archdiocese of Verapoly.

The Anglo-Indian community presently numbers about 150,000 persons in Kerala.

UNI