Category: News

In a dynamic convergence of action and academia, Global program takes strides towards a holistic understanding of Disaster Management and Food Security. The spotlight turned to the Caritas India Global Program at the UGC-sponsored refresher course tailored for Geography and Geology hosted by Geology department of Patna University on January 25, 2024.

In a pioneering move to combat the persistent threats of floods and disasters in Dhemaji district, Caritas India's Global Programme, supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Caritas India, has introduced a groundbreaking initiative - the Borlung NC TFG Community Contingency Fund. Aligned with global program goals for updated risk analyses and disaster prevention plans, this community-driven fund ensures not just immediate relief but also long-term resilience.

In a wonderful convergence of information and empowerment on January 12, 2024, the District Education Training Institute in Nawada played host to an extraordinary National Youth Day program. Organised by the Disaster Management Department in collaboration with Nehru Yuva Kendra, the event saw the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) extending a special invitation to Caritas India Global Programme.

In the fertile yet challenged landscapes of Bihar, an enduring struggle against malnutrition has been silently fought for decades. The plight, as outlined by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) for 2019-21, reveals a stark reality: 43% of children under five in Bihar are stunted, 23% wasted, with figures in Munger district even more alarming at 35.5% stunted and 26.7% wasted. In the face of these daunting statistics, Global Program India embarked on a transformative journey to combat this deep-rooted issue, yielding significant results within a mere three-month span.

In the tribal heartland of Rayagada, where 88% of the population belongs to tribal communities, Caritas India’s Global Program embarked on a mission to address alarming health indicators through a comprehensive balanced diet campaign. This predominantly tribal district faced a literacy rate of only 56%, with women's literacy at a mere 42%, making effective health communication a formidable challenge. The recently released NFHS-5 data revealed distressing statistics, with 43.6% of children under five being stunted, 16.1% wasting, and 39.8% underweight.

In the heart of the Sundarbans, where life is dictated by the ebb and flow of tides and the resilience of its people is tested by the fury of cyclones, a transformative journey towards economic empowerment and agricultural resilience has taken root. The Sundarbans, a region renowned for its breathtaking beauty, faced the harsh realities of climate change, extreme weather events, and the ensuing challenges to food security. The aftermath of Cyclone Aila in 2009, Cyclone Bulbul in 2019, and the devastating Cyclone Amphan in 2020 and subsequent events like Yaas and cloudburst in 2021 brought not only destructive winds but also saline seawater that infiltrated the soil and water sources, wreaking havoc on agriculture and aquaculture.

Social auditing enhances transparency and accountability in service deliveries of programs and schemes. As an empowering process, social auditing provides space for the user community to validate the usefulness and quality of the services and also to suggest actions for further improvement. The sector of nutrition and food security requires continued attention and multi-stakeholder engagement especially the active role of community-based organizations and program participants is very significant for improved services. In order to strengthen the sector, the services of ICDS is necessary to ensure a basic minimum level of health and nutrition among the most vulnerable sections of its citizens.

In a heartfelt commitment to the safety and well-being of communities, Caritas India Global Program has enthusiastically joined forces with the Lightning Resilience India Campaign. Launched in 2019 in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this joint initiative is more than just a campaign; it's a collective heartbeat resonating across the diverse landscapes of Assam, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal.

In a transformative initiative under the Global Program, Caritas India, in collaboration with local partner Anchalika Jana Seva Anusthan (AJSA), has been actively fostering resilience within the vulnerable communities of the Krushnaprasad block in the Puri district of Odisha. Over the past two years, the program has specifically focused on enhancing the community's preparedness for disasters, marking a significant shift towards proactive risk reduction.

In a compelling and transformative event, Caritas India, in collaboration with UNICEF, the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), and SPHERE India, successfully hosted a two-day National Conference at the United Service Institution of India, New Delhi, on November 29th and 30th, 2023. This gathering marked the culmination of Caritas India's We4Resilience campaign, a global program initiative aimed at fortifying disaster resilience and nutrition at a macro level.