Diocese of Cuttack, Church of North India

The Diocese of Cuttack, Church of North India, is the oldest of the three Dioceses of the CNI, in Odisha. The membership comprises of 80% of Dalits, Tribals and Backward caste people. In the rural churches, there are marginal farmers and landless laborers, who are an exploited lot due to there ignorance and poverty. The Diocese was worst hit by the Super Cyclone of October, 1999. The Diocese runs Educational Institutions such as Schools, Hostels and one College in the urban centres of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, and Homes in the rural areas. Most of these were started by the Oldest Baptist Missionary Society of England and continue to provide vital educational services. However, they are limited mostly to the urban elite.

The story of the rural Churches is however, very different. Village Christians have remained poor for generations since conversion. They have suffered neglect, discrimination and deprivation, both by the Government and Church.