Gujarat Finally Grants Minority Status To Jews, Becomes Third State In India To Do So
The Government of Gujarat on 6 July finally granted minority status to followers of Judaism in the state, thus becoming the third state in India to do so. The notification was issued by the state’s Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. The community had earlier made a representation for minority status, reports The Times of India.
After careful consideration, (the) Gujarat state government hereby resolves to accord religious minority community status to the Jew community living in Gujarat. They shall get benefits of welfare schemes formulated for religious minority communities within the jurisdiction of Gujarat.The notification from the state government
Gujarat has a very small Jewish community with approximately 170 members, mostly located in Ahmedabad. The city is home to the only synagogue in the state, the Magen Abraham Synagogue that was built in 1934.
Gujarat is now the third state in India to have granted minority status for Jews, following Maharashtra and West Bengal.
West Bengal had granted the status over a decade ago under the erstwhile Communist government. The state had a Jewish population of 43 at that time.
Maharashtra had accorded minority status for Jews in 2017, prior to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Israel. The state is home to over 2,000 Jews, making it the largest for a state.
Other states with significant Jewish populations include Kerala.
Also Read: India’s Jews: The Unknown Community