Cardinal Oswald Gracias inaugurated Jeevan-III programme by unveiling the logo at a function held in Mumbai on 13 July 2022. The inauguration was organized on the margins of the assembly of the Regional Bishops’ Conference of the western region comprising Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa. Apart from Cardinal Oswald and the Cardinal-designate Philip Neri of Goa, thirteen prelates of the region attended the event.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias appreciated Caritas India and her partners on the commencement of the new project to be implemented in the backward regions of Maharashtra. “Caritas India and Maharashtra partners have been working tirelessly and selflessly for helping the poor. The work of Caritas India is an expression of Christian compassion which was particularly evident during the pandemic”, Cardinal Oswald said after unveiling the logo of Jeevan-III programme.

Jeevan-III, a Misereor-supported three-year programme, seeks to remedy the traditional and deep-rooted stereotyping against women, and envisages initiating women-led campaigns for self-realization, organisation and empowerment of women. Jeevan-III also envisages the creation of empowering spaces for women to congregate, express and assert themselves. Eleven partner organisations will work with the communities of 165 villages across ten districts in Maharashtra for helping women gain more decision-making roles in the domains of agriculture and grassroots governance.

Bishop CC Jose of Rajkot in his address appreciated Caritas India for triggering new development thoughts in the region and sustaining concentrated efforts to strengthen women. While terming the development spearheaded by Caritas India, Bishop CC Jose said, “the development programmes are a manifestation of the commitment of Catholic Church to uplift the downtrodden and to empower the disempowered. The strategy of empowerment of Jeevan-III is indeed the right approach to find long-term solutions to the poverty of communities”.

Fr. (Dr.) Paul Moonjely, Executive Director of Caritas India, informed the gathering that the new phase of the Jeevan programme is a very special programme for Caritas India because of its women’s focus. Unlike the earlier phases of Jeevan, the new phase will dedicate its focus and resources for empowering communities, particularly women, and to help them find their voices in the community platforms, Fr. Paul said. “A powerful women-led action needs to be initiated for helping women come to the centre-stage of development and community-level decision-making processes and systems. Jeevan-III will endeavor to accomplish this by organizing and capacitating women”, Fr. Paul added. He also appreciated Maharashtra partners for the illustrious successes that the two phases of Jeevan had accomplished.

Fr. (Dr.) Jolly Puthenpura, Assistant Executive Director of Caritas India, gave a short presentation on the impacts of the recently concluded Jeevan-EA programme. While highlighting the impacts of Jeevan-Empowering Animation (EA) programme Fr. Jolly appreciated Maharashtra partners for working rigorously despite the dangers of the pandemic to assist communities to gain access to government welfare scheme benefits. “Jeevan-EA had accomplished creditable successes in popularizing sustainable agriculture, democratizing governance systems and to conserving Adivasi culture. Creditably, Jeevan-EA helped nearly 23,000 households to access the benefits of schemes to the tune of Rs. 12.8 crores. Jeevan-EA also helped communities to submit 6800 applications on various governance platforms”, Fr. Jolly said. He hoped that the new phase of Jeevan would consolidate the learning from the earlier concluded two phases of Jeevan and would help communities achieve greater development by heading on the path of empowerment.

Archbishop Thomas Macwan of Gandhinagar also addressed the inaugural ceremony. The  inaugural session concluded with the vote of thanks by Bishop CC Jose.