Central Sarna Committee Urges Tribal Community to Register ‘Sarna’ in Census Religion Column

Ranchi: Amid ongoing discussions within the tribal community over the demand for a separate Sarna Religion Code, members of the Central Sarna Committee addressed a press conference to reaffirm their position on the issue. The leaders emphasized that Sarna is a distinct faith with its own identity and should not be linked with any other religion.

Addressing the media, Phoolchand Tirkey said that some individuals are attempting to portray Sarna and Sanatan as the same faith, while others are suggesting that followers of Sarna and Christianity belong to the same religious lineage. He argued that such claims are factually incorrect and accused certain groups of making these statements for political gain while misleading tribal communities.

Tirkey stated that the tribal community has a unique religious and cultural identity, which is why the demand for a separate Sarna Religion Code has been raised for many years. With the census process approaching, he appealed to members of the tribal community to write “Sarna” in the religion column while filling out census forms.

According to him, a larger number of people identifying themselves as followers of the Sarna faith in official records would strengthen the demand for separate recognition of the Sarna Religion Code. Speakers at the press conference also called on tribal communities to unite in preserving their traditions, cultural heritage, and religious identity.