Jharkhand government seeks Church's help in fighting famine

(August 20, 2009) The government of the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand has sought the Catholic Church's help to fight famine and distribute food relief to people reeling from drought in the state. T.P. Sinha, advisor to Jharkhand Governor K. Sankarnarayanan, met Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo Archbishop of Ranchi on Sunday to make a formal request for assistance. The government on Aug. 2 declared the entire state drought-affected. Farmers in the state could sow only 20 percent of rice paddy this year because of lack of water, local media reported. After the meeting at the archbishop’s house in Ranchi, Cardinal Toppo told UCA News the government wants to use the Church's vast infrastructure and network in the state. He said the Church was fully devoted in serving the poor and was only too willing to extend its fullest cooperation to the state. The prelate said the Church would first chalk out "an effective and transparent system" and implement it in collaboration with the government. Jharkhand state has eight Catholic dioceses and allied organizations engaged in serving the poor. "All our dioceses can be harnessed for this noble job," the cardinal said. He added that he would send out an urgent message and organize a meeting of directors of diocesan social development societies. People in a drought-hit area are eligible for government aid, free grain, interest-free loans and other assistance. The Jharkhand state government said it has approved 111.9 million rupees (US$2.38 million) for the project.