Author: P.N.Benjamin
Publication: The Vijay Times
Date: April 30, 2003
While the deeds of Christian Church
and its (elite) institutions receive a carefully planned blare of publicity,
their misdeeds have been shrouded in mystery. The misuse of funds of educational
institutions under the management of the Karnataka Central Diocese of the
Church of South India is a case in point.
Crores of rupees collected in the
name of voluntary donation or infrastructure development fund every year
by four elite schools run by CSI in Bangalore are not only used for the
development of the schools but also for other purposes.
In a letter addressed to the principals
of four schools, Bishop S.Vasanthakumar has instructed that "25 per cent
of the their voluntary contribution for the next 2-3 years commencing from
2002-03 be earmarked for building a Human Resource Centre for the Diocese
costing Rs.2 crore. He has even asked them to "make budgetary provision
of 25 per cent of voluntary contribution for the same purpose.
School funds collected from the
parents of students are used for religious and other purposes too. The
four schools have together earmarked in their latest budget Rs.30 lakhs
for holding the church's synod meeting in January 2004!
These schools are made to pay for
committee meetings of the diocese held in places like Munnar, Bombay, Hyderabad
and New Delhi in five-star ambience. The schools too take care of their
travel expenses by air or in air-conditioned railway coaches.
In addition, every year school funds
are used for paying bonus and giving Christmas gifts to the pastors, diocesan
employees and teachers. Have we ever heard of schoolteachers getting annual
bonus? Do the government schoolteachers get bonus?
Are the Christian educational institutions
permitted under the provisions of the Income Tax Act to divert their funds
for purposes unconnected to education?
