The Voice of the Martyrs Canada :: Update: Relief camps closed down in Orissa :: Providing Information and Support for Persecuted Christians

Language:
English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language.

Religion:
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, Other 1.8% (2001)

Government Type:
Federal Republic

Capital:
New Delhi

Population Below Poverty Line:
25% (2007 est.)

Country Reports

Update: Relief camps closed down in Orissa

January 14, 2009

Government authorities have shut down relief camps in Orissa, India, forcing the thousands of Christians displaced by the wave of violence that began in August (click here for more details) to flee without adequate protection against further attacks or compensation for damages sustained. Many of the believers were threatened with violence while in the camps and fear further attacks if they return to their homes, many of which have not been rebuilt. Officials are providing some of the refugees with 10,000 rupees (approximately $200 CAD). However, the sum is inadequate to meet the believers' long-term needs and it is unlikely that many will be able to secure employment, as local Hindus often refuse to hire Christians.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, click here.