Indian state honours Catholic relief efforts

(August 20, 2010) The Andhra Pradesh state government has awarded the Kurnool diocesan social service society for aiding victims of last year’s flood in the southern Indian state. Kurnool district administration, at a function on August 15, India’s Independence Day, awarded a Certificate of Commendation to the society’s director, Father K.D. Joseph. Though hundreds of NGOs had worked for the flood victims, only his organization received the “commendation,” he said. He added that the “unique recognition” is a tribute to the “great work the Catholic minority community does for those in need.” The floods, which hit the Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Karnataka states in October 2009, killed some 300 people and washed away homes and schools. Bishop Anthony Poola of Kurnool had assigned the entire flood relief work to the diocesan social service society, which sent teams of priests, nuns, seminarians and lay people to affected areas. They provided immediate aid and after the water receded, worked to clean the roads and drains. The society also distributed 45,000 family relief packages, including uncooked food, stoves and clothing. The society sent medical teams to prevent outbreaks of epidemics and worked on sanitation and rehabilitation of water sources. It also started a cash-for-work program to make flood victims self-sufficient and is constructing 1,000 permanent houses for victims.