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Charitable Activities in The Diocese Of
Mananthavady
Diocese of Mananthavady runs a number of
charitable projects under its various
departments. There is also a Social Service
Department and a registered Society called
Wayanad Social Service Society (WSSS) for
undertaking major social service activities.
Here below is given a short description of
the main social and charitable activities
under the diocese of Mananthavady.
Children's' Homes
There are at present 25 Children's homes in
the diocese of Mananthavady. Out of them
three are run directly by the diocese and
the rest are by various religious
congregations. The total number of children
in these homes is more than 750. These
children are provided with free boarding,
lodging and medical facilities and school
books and fees. In addition they are given
special training in computer application and
such other skills. In one of the homes named
Boys Town there is a private Lower Primary
school for the children of the Home. The
children in the surrounding areas also make
use of this school. Children are admitted to
these Children's Homes irrespective of their
caste, creed or religion. The expenses of
the children's homes are met from the grant
from the state and from local and foreign
benefactors. Most of the children in these
homes are from broken families. there are
also fully orphan children. The diocese or
the respective religious congregation take
up the full responsibility of them and do
everything possible to ensure them better
future.
Since it is not a state funded school the
entire expense, including the teachers'
salary and the infrastructural costs, of the
school is met by the diocese. Therefore a
nominal fee is collected from the children
coming from outside. However, this amount is
not sufficient to cover the entire cost. The
deficit is met by the diocese from its
general fund collected from contributions
from the faithful mainly abroad.
Contributions are most welcome from anywhere
in the world. Any small amount will help us
reduce the burden to some extent.
Contributions may be sent as crossed cheque
to :
Diocese of Mananthavady, Post Box No.
1, Mananthavady 670645, India.
Contributions may also be transferred
directly to our bank account. Please ask for
the details under the following address:
Finance Officer, Bishop's House, PB No. 1,
Mananthavady 670 645, India.
or email to
jporunnedom@hotmail.com
Old Age Homes
There are a total of 16 Old Age Homes in the
diocese. Out of them one is run directly by
the diocese and the rest by various
religious congregations and the Society of
St Vincent de Paul. The total number of
inmates in these homes is about 200. Most of
the inmates are old people who are abandoned
by their relatives and who have no where
else to go. Some do not even know where they
come from.
We welcome contributions from anywhere in
the world. Contributions may be sent as
crossed cheque to :
Diocese of Mananthavady,
Post Box No. 1, Mananthavady 670 645, India.
Contributions may also be transferred
directly to our bank account. Please ask for
the details under the following address:
Finance Officer, Bishop's House, PB No. 1,
Mananthavady 670 645, India.
or email to
jporunnedom@hotmail.com
Homes for Mentally Retarded and
Physically Challenged
There are eight homes for the mentally
retarded and three for the physically
handicapped. Some of these homes accept
children as day scholars while the rest
accept also residents. Altogether more than
a hundred children are in the homes for the
mentally retarded and about ninety in the
homes for the physically handicapped. These
institutions ensure that at least part of
the inmates become able to look after their
own needs and find a livelihood for
themselves when they definitively leave the
institution. as in the case of other
charitable institutions admission is given
to these institutions without any
discrimination of religion, creed or caste.
Rehabilitation Centers
There are two homes, one for the unwed
mothers and the other for street children.
The number in these institutions is not very
high. However they serve the society in a
meritorious way by giving a chance to the
unwed mothers who are hated and often
abandoned by their families and by giving
shelter to the children roaming about the
street.
Education Programs
The diocese runs an education program for
the poor but bright children. Every year the
diocese pays in cash Rs. 1000 (about US $ 22
at current exchange rates) each for 500
children studying in classes 8 to 12. These
children are identified by the respective
parish priests together with the parish
committees and the money is channeled
through the parish account. During the last
five years a total of 27 lakhs (2.7 million)
of rupees were given to the deserving poor
children.
In addition during the last two years the
diocese made it possible for 40 poor
children to study in privately run and
privately funded English Medium schools by
paying for them. These schools are most
coveted by all but the fees are unaffordable
to the poor. The Women Religious
Congregations in the diocese also has a
program for helping the poor children of the
diocese. Last year they gave out more than
2.5 lakhs (250,000) of rupees to a total of
250 children studying in classes 8 to 12.
Under this scheme each child gets Rs. 2000/-
(About US $ 44) per year. besides this
programme they as well as the men religious
congregations of the diocese have their own
projects for helping the poor school going
children.
Our next attempt is to provide financial
assistance to poor student who wish to
pursue professional studies. At present many
are seeking education loans from commercial
banks. But the banks are reluctant to give
them credit because they are not able to
give anything as collateral. therefore there
is a strong need for the intervention of the
diocese in this area.
The diocese runs also a parallel college
where more than 1000 students study at a
very nominal fee. This college is meant
especially for those who fail to get
admission in regular colleges.
Contributions are welcome for the education
programme of the diocese. Any small
Contributions may be sent as crossed cheque
to :
Diocese of Mananthavady, Post Box No.
1, Mananthavady 670 645, India.
Contributions may also be transferred
directly to our bank account. Please ask for
the details under the following address:
Finance Officer, Bishop's House, PB No. 1,
Mananthavady 670 645, India.
or email to
jporunnedom@hotmail.com.
Social Service Department
The social works of the diocese are done
mainly through this department and a society
called Wayanad Social Service Society (WSSS).
WSSS is widely acclaimed both in India and
abroad for its proven track record in the
social service field. WSSS undertakes the
execution may state and central government
sponsored schemes such as Jalnidhi and
watershed projects. It has a project for
conserving medicinal plants approved by the
central government. As a part of it there is
also a station in Karnataka where ayurvedic
medicines are produced and training is given
to the local population to produce medicine
from the plants and herbs available in their
locality. An important area where WSSS is
engaged is in the promotion bio-farming. It
has more than 4000 certified farmers who
cultivate using bio-methods. Every year WSSS
collects spices from them and exports to
various foreign countries giving a
substantial price margin to the farmers.
WSSS has a number of local self help groups
and farmers' clubs through whom its
activities are conducted. Similarly there is
also a legal aid wing under the Social
Service Department. Poor people are given
free legal advice and occasionally legal
service including lawyers free of charge
from there. Another programme is the Save a
Family Plan in association with the Save a
Family Plan International. A number of poor
families are helped by small cash helps.
Last year WSSS successfully completed a
housing program for the poor with the
collaboration of the Kuwait Malayalee
Catholic Association. The project was called
May Flower Housing Scheme. Under this scheme
50 house were constructed. Rs. 50000 was
given by the KMCA, 25000 from WSSS and each
beneficiary had to pay Rs. 25000. The
beneficiaries were identified by the local
self help groups and these groups themselves
monitored the execution of the project in
the respective places. The beneficiaries of
all these programs are selected from all
communities. WSSS is very much involved in
the Tribal welfare activities also. There is
a department under WSSS for dealing with the
issues related to tribals. This has a
special significance as Wayanad has a
sizable population of tribal.
In addition to the above said programmes
there are a number of projects and
programmes run by the various associations
in the diocese such as Catholic Mothers'
Association, Cherupushpa Mission League,
Society of St Vincent De Paul and Catholic
Youth Movement.
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