Government of India have declared Religious Minority status for Jain Community. Cabinet (Central government) have approved it recently. There are several benefits and advantages of having Religious Minority status. These benefits are institutional, social and personal. We seek minority status to save our temples, pilgrimage centers and our social / religious institution
Government can take over Hindu temples but can not touch any minority worship place. Hence, this religious minority status will help us saving Jain temples and pilgrimage centers. Jain community have built and run large numbers of educational institutes. We will benefit our community members by reserving seats for Jain community members. Minority institutions enjoy this facility.
Some of the benefits and advantages of religious minority status are listed below.
1. Religious Minority status for Jain will ensure safety and security of Jainism as religion.
2. Jain educational Institutes will have right to teach Jainism Its philosophy and morality.
3 Jain will have access to cheaper and subsidized loan for technical and other education and also for business.
4. Jain colleges can reserve 50% seats for Jain students.
5. Jain community will be eligible of conserving their religion, languages, culture etc as per provisions of article 25 to 30 of Indian constitution.
6. Government cannot take over Jain religious places such as temples, dadabadi, samadhi, pilgrimage centers, trusts etc. Moreover, government has to take initiative for safety and security and development of such centers.
7. Properties owned by Jain religious trusts will be exempted from rent control act.
8. Meritorious and BPL students will get full exemption in tuition fees in schools.
9. Government interference will be minimized in opening and running educational and other institutes.
10. Jain students will be eligible of free or subsidize coaching in coaching colleges run by universities.
11. Government will provide various benefits in opening and running school, college, hostel, research institutes, hospitals etc. Government land will be obtained at subsidized rate.
12. Jain students will be eligible of grants for training in business and administrative courses.
13. There will be wealth tax exemption for donations for charitable and religious causes.
14. Government will pay grant and scholarship to promote cultural and games and sports activities to Jain students and youth.
15. Jain community will get special benefits in government employment.
People consider Jain community as a rich and advance community. It is true that mainstream Jain communities likes of Oswal, Shrimal, Agrawal and Saraogi are rich business class communities and comparatively advance. Large numbers of community people think that these rich and advance communities do not require any governmental support. However, this is not completely true. There are large numbers of communities following Jainism except these rich and advanced communities.
There are several other communities engaged in farming etc and constitute low income groups. Less known fact is that large numbers of Jain belong to this group and even live below poverty level (BPL Jain). One can be astonished to know the fact that several Dalit, OBC, tribal and scheduled caste communities follow Jainism. These communities following Jainism can largely be benefited by several central and state government schemes for minority communities.
I am trying to list some lesser known Jain communities with their major engagements and localities. There are many other communities following Jainism. All these communities following Jain religion are eligible of the benefits of minority status.
Khandelwal Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada, Asathi Vaishya, Ayodhyavasi (U P), Jaiswal Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bagherwal Rajasthan, Porwal Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh Humbad and Kuchchhi Oswal Gujrat, Bogar Karnataka are some other Jain Business communities.
Bakarwal in Kashmir and Gujjars in Western India are shepherds. Bhavsar Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chippiga, Saitwal Maharashtra are mainly tailors and Jain Koshti Vidarbh (Maharashtra) are weavers community.
Chaturth South Maharashtra, North Karnataka, Jain Gouda South Karnataka, Dhakad, Jaat Haryana, Punjab, North Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh, Nainar Tamil Nadu, Patidar Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, Sadaru Karnataka are some of the peasant communities. Pancham North Karnataka, South Maharashtra and Parwar Bundelkhand (M.P.-U.P.) are both cultivators and Traders.
Jain Kalar, Dharmpal, Metaraj and Veerval are dalits in Rajasthan and Malwa (MP). Kshatriya Parmar in Gujarat, Meena in Rajasthan and Saraak in Bengal, Jharakhand are tribal communities whereas Khatri in Punjab is a warrior community following Jain religion.
We have been raising our voice since last twenty five years to declare Jain as religious minority. We have represented at various levels to get our right. Several state governments have already declared Jain as religious minority. However, the Central government of India has first time taken this decision. Jain will get minority status after approval of the Hon'ble President of India and gazette notification.
Jain community will eligible of receiving all such benefits and advantages provided by central and state governments after notification. I urge all members of Jain communities to know about such benefits and claim it for themselves, community members, religious, social and educational institutes.
Benefits of Religious Minority status for Jain Community
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