ASIA/INDIA - Christian population is growing in three Indian states

Tuesday, 14 June 2016 local churches   development   religious minorities  

EFI

Chennai (Agenzia Fides) - The Christian population in three Indian states of Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand has increased at a faster rate compared to the growth of the total population growth rate during the 2001-11 decade: says a research of the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), a study center based in Chennai, in Tamil Nadu, which analyzed and deepened the information data from the census of 2011. Overall, according to the census, Christians in India are 27,800,000, of whom 2.5 million live in the three Indian states of Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, notes the Center: these are, therefore, one of the regions with the greatest Christian presence in India, about 9.3%.
The Christian presence is traditionally strong in the area of Ranchi, Jharkhand, in the neighboring district of Sundargarh (Orissa) and that of Jashpur (Chhattisgarh). Other areas with a strong Christian presence are the districts of Gajpati and Kandhmal, in Orissa, and that of Santhal Pagana, in Jharkhand.
According to the note of the CPS sent to Fides, in some sub-districts, such as in the area of Ranchi, the Christian population reaches up to 80% of the total population. As for the well-known district of Kandhamal, in Orissa, theater of anti-Christian pogroms in 2008, the study points out that Christianity here has spread since 1981, from 9.4% of the population to 20.3% in 2011. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/06/2016)


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