Report To India's PM Says "Scheduled Caste" Should Be Delinked From Religion

In India, the National Commission for Linguistic and Religious Minorities yesterday submitted a report to Prime Minister Minister Manmohan Singh suggesting that India's Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 be amended to delink "scheduled caste" status from religious affiliation. Today's Times of India says the report concludes that caste is totally a social concept in India. Currently, only Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs may claim the benefits of scheduled caste status. The Commission has also recommended that a change in religion should not adversely affect the scheduled caste status of a person.