Church builds new homes for Christians and Hindus in Orissa

(MAY 11, 2010) The Catholic Church in India’s eastern Orissa State, has launched a plan to build 5,550 housing units in Kandhamal, a district devastated by violence caused by radical Hindu nationalists in the summer of 2008. Local Hindus and Christians, who lost their homes will be eligible under the plan. Local Catholic sources said that the official death toll from the violence stood at more than 90 people, mostly Christians. About 50,000 residents were also forced from their homes. Fr Ajaya Kumar Singh told AsiaNews that thanks to donations from Christians, some 1,360 low-cost houses were completed by the end of April. He said their goal is 5,550 homes and some 700 Hindu families will benefit, and the rest will go to Christians. “The Church serves all, and Religion is not a barrier for our service and development,” he said. “We are building houses for everyone, without any vested interest and we hope that it will make our Hindu neighbours understand that the Church is for all religious communities” the priest added. According to Fr Singh, who has been involved in social action almost two years after the violence, religious tensions remain high in 15 villages in Kandhamal District.
In some ten other villages, Christians are not allowed to come back,” said Fr Manoj Nayak who supervises housing projects in the district. He said they are not allowed to use local material in their projects; Hindus are not cooperating in the construction and Hindu villagers are trying all possible ways to segregate and ostracise Christians. He said “We are trying to motivate everyone to live in peace and harmony, but we face many challenges every day.”