(March 03, 2010) The Catholic bishops in India recently released a trainers’ kit
as part of its campaign to educate people on their right to food. “Although India
is rich, its people live below the poverty line,” said Father Nithiya Sagayam, secretary
of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Development of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of India (CBCI). He said the Food Corporation of India stores are overflowing
with food grains but many die because of inadequate relief. In 2006, some 100,000
farmers committed suicide because of starvation and debts. The priest said such
incidents made him realize that the old charity methods of the Church were not
appropriate for modern challenges. The Church official pointed out that the Indian
government has several schemes for the welfare of the poor, but few have access to
them because of their illiteracy. He said the worst affected are tribal people, slum
dwellers and rural poor. These groups have to be taught their basic rights,” he said,
and added that the Church project also aims to help the poor utilize government welfare
schemes. The kit includes a trainers’ manual on the use of such schemes and a
PowerPoint CD for training. The commission aims to have the content available in 10
languages. Father Sagayam said his commission next plans to educate children from
the sixth to twelfth grade. “If the children are motivated, they will fight for their
rights when they grow up, besides pressuring their parents to assert their rights,”
he added.