DISABILITY AND PASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELLING IN THE MARA SOCIETY OF NORTH EAST INDIA: TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE MINISTRY

Abstract

This study critically examines the realities of disability within the socio-cultural and religious context of the Mara society in Northeast India. It investigates how traditional beliefs, which often associate disability with spiritual misfortune or ancestral displeasure, contribute to social exclusion and marginalisation. Engaging biblical and theological perspectives, the paper reinterprets disability through the lens of pastoral theology and Christian anthropology, affirming the inherent dignity of every human person created in the image of God. It argues that the church’s pastoral response must transcend charity and move toward an inclusive and justice-oriented ministry that empowers persons with disabilities as equal participants in the body of Christ. By integrating contextual theology with practical pastoral approaches, the study envisions a transformative and compassionate ecclesial community that embodies the holistic mission of God.