Jesuits house flood victims

(February 24, 2012) Jesuits in southern India’s Karnataka state have recently provided 127 flood-affected families with new homes in Raichur district. Many poor families from various religious backgrounds lost their homes in October 2009 when flood waters struck, washing away thousands of houses. The Jesuits say they have been working since then to help re-house the flood victims, especially the poorest. “We are handing over 127 houses in Manvi and Sindanoor sub-district,” said Father Eric Mathias, the director of the Centre for Non Formal and Continuing Education, a Jesuit-run NGO. Each home cost 150,000 rupees (US $3,000). Jesuit houses across Karnataka state bore 90 percent of the cost, while the remaining funds came by way of donations, the priest said. “Special consideration was given to devadasis (temple prostitutes) and dalit families,” said Fr Mathias.