The Diocese of Regensburg, a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in Regensburg, Germany is supporting the Covid-19 affected people in seven states and one union territory in India. The fund has been routed through Caritas Germany, a long-standing donor, and well-wisher of Caritas India.  

The COVID relief efforts have been extended to the neediest families in West Bengal, Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Delhi, Kerala, and Pondicherry through Dry Ration, cooked food, medical/hygiene kits, and financial support.

In Delhi, many families lost their main earning members and are facing a financial crisis. The funds received from the Diocese of Regensburg are also being used to support these financially compromised families.

Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto, President Chetanalaya, and Fr. (Dr.) Jolly, Assistance Director, Caritas India handed over the Direct Financial Support of Rs. 10,000/- through direct Bank transfer to the families who lost their main earning members in this Covid-19 pandemic. The plan is to provide cooked food meals to 15,000 people, provide dry ration to 2800 families, financial support to 100 families, and emergency support.

In West Bengal, Krishnagar Cathedral Charitable Social Society (KCCSS), the diocesan partner of Caritas India has successfully supported 750 families with dry food ration, nutrition requirements, and health hygienic kits in Ragunathganj – II block (Murshidabad district) and in Nakashipara block (Nadia district). 

“I used to roll 350-400 beedi (local had made cigarette) to earn Rs. 70 in a day but due to covid I can not go for ‘beedi’ rolling job as the industry is closed and I don’t get any old age help from the government,” shares Mrs. Nafsiya Bewa with one of the volunteers. Nafsiya is a poor elderly widow who is abandoned by her children. By receiving the dry food ration and hygiene kits said that “amar jono apnara ei bhagawan” (For me you are God). She requested KCCSS to make arrangements for her to get government old age aid and relieve her pain from the beedi rolling job.

In the coming days, all the 13970 families will be given Dry Ration, Cooked Food to 15600 people, medical/hygiene support to 5740, and financial support to 440 families.