Christian outfits skeptical about Kerala govt's claim over J B Koshy commission recommendations

Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the Kerala government on Tuesday stated that most of the recommendations of Justice J B Koshy commission appointed to study the social, educational and economic conditions of the Christian community were implemented, the community leaders maintain that they are still in the dark either about the recommendations or its implementation.

The state government's move is believed to be a pre-poll one as various factions of the Christian community have been strongly criticising the government over the delay in implementing the commission report.

The previous left-front government led by Pinarayi Vijayan constituted the Justice J B Koshy commission towards the end of the government's term in 2021 and the commission submitted its reports in May 2023. The report was not made public by the government citing that the matter was under Cabinet's consideration.

On Tuesday the chief minister's office said in a statement the chief minister conducted a review of the implementation of the commission's recommendations. Out of the 284 recommendations of the commission, steps in 220 were already over and 17 departments have fully implemented the recommendations.  Seven recommendations would be brought before the cabinet soon. The departments concerned were directed to expedite implementation of the remaining recommendations that could be implemented, said the statement.

Leaders of various Christian outfits as well as Justice J B Koshy told DH that they were not aware of the recommendations that were implemented. 

"I had come across an earlier government order citing the steps required for implementing the recommendations. But so far we don't have any information on the implementation of any of the recommendations," Justice Koshy said.

Catholic Congress global director Fr. Philip Kaviyil said that the government should make public the commission report and clarify which were the recommendations implemented. The government's present statement seems to be nothing but beating around the bush.

Cherama Sambava Development Society, an outfit of the Dalit Christians, also maintained that they have no information regarding the implementations of any recommendations concerning them. "Our key issues like inadequate representation in government jobs are yet to be implemented," said the society leader K K Suresh.