Churches in India have been asked to tackle "institutional casteism" at a meeting organised by the World Council of Churches and Indian Christian groups.

Christians in Kandhamal, east India, face a continuing struggle since the anti-Christian violence that began in August 2008 killed more than 90 people.

Naming caste-based discrimination as "sin, apostasy and rebellion against God", Indian churches have committed to being "zero tolerance zones" for casteism.

According to an Indian church worker, the violence against Christians in the Indian state of Orissa last year was not a one-time event but the consequence of a fragmented society. However, the recent elections give fresh hope.