In what comes as a major problem of Christian evangelists, missionaries and affiliated NGO’s trying to force Christianity down the throat of non-Christian believers — the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in a recent study found out that Bible was being forcefully taught to kids of non-Christian women prisoners across the country and that it was gross negligence on part of the state machinery.
“The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 defined these children as ‘Children in Need of Care and Protection’ and makes it binding on the State machinery to ensure that these children do not fall prey to institutions which not only compromises with their safety and security but denies them the right to preserve identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognised by the law without unlawful interference (UNCRC),” the report read.
The report covered eight women prisons in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra and included 144 responses of women prisoners their children, heads of children’s homes and hostels, heads of schools and prison officials.
The report mentions that the researchers found stacks of the Bible in crèche (day-care) facilities. “It was observed during the visits that the prison administration of NariBandiNiketan in Lucknow has given permission to an NGO to impart moral and religious teachings of Bible to children of women prisoners belonging to a different religion.” the report read whilst giving an example.
The report cites another example of one Asha Deep Foundation where it was similarly found that children were being taught religious teachings of Christianity other than one practised by the children. “The Commission conducted a surprise visit and retrieved around 26 Bibles from the lockers and rooms of the non-Christian children.”
The Commission did not hold back in criticising the state authorities for allowing such practice to go unfettered for so long.
“It is a gross negligence on the part of state machinery who fail to bear the responsibility towards these children, eventually provide access to these vulnerable children and further perpetuate their vested interests,” added the report of NCPCR.
According to a News18 report, the NCPCR report also mentions that while conducting the pilot study in Delhi, the commission found major gaps in the existing prison management system where children are placed in hostels without the proper orders of the child welfare committee, district collectorate, or department of social welfare, which compromises the safety and security of these children.
What NCPCR exposes is a strong nexus between the NGOs and missionary groups across the country where people of other faith are manipulated to convert into Christianity. However, taking advantage of the women prisoners who barely get to see their children in the jail — these NGOs had been stealthily trying to convert and shape the kids from a young age. The state, as well as the prison authorities, need to be held accountable for the gross negligence and tough measures need to be introduced in the prison system for not letting such incidents happen again.