Catholic Church in Maharashtra is gearing up to support the flood-battered districts of Maharashtra. Under the staunch leadership of Fr. Jolly Puthenpura, Assistant Executive Director, Caritas India, the first coordination meeting was organised for a stock-taking of the flood response by the Catholic Church in Maharashtra.

Attended by Most Reverend Bishop Thomas Dabre, the meeting had participation from the Diocesan Directors of Pune, Sindudurg and Kalyan Diocese, Director of Sangli Mission Society, Western Region Forum Director along with Ms. Rose Joseph, GB Member, Ms. Raina, Ex. GB Member of Caritas India and Mr. Lijoy from SEVA – Khadki Diocese.

Most Reverend Bishop Thomas Dabre shared that the service of Caritas India and the Catholic Church in Maharashtra is voluntary as well as obligatory. There is a need for long-lasting solutions in the flood-affected villages. The enormity of the household damage itself is a testimony to the need for support from the Catholic Church and other humanitarian organisations. Likewise, the livelihood of thousands has also been affected. Ways to help affected families recover their means of income is also a need of the hour. However, Bishop Dabre also shared that a proper study should be undertaken to identify the most deserving beneficiaries. We should also not discriminate beneficiaries based on religion, caste or creed. Working in close tandem with the government administration, he shared will also enhance our relief and recovery operations.

Mr. Melvin Pangya, Caritas India State Officer for Maharashtra shared the presence, engagements, and achievements of Caritas India in the flood-affected districts of Kolhapur, Sangli, and Pune of Maharashtra. 93 Lakh rupees have been approved for relief and recovery operations in Maharashtra by Caritas India in August 2019 alone. The partner directors then made a presentation about their response in respective operational regions.

Fr. Jolly, AED Caritas India then opened the discussion on challenges and support needs of the local DSSS and CRI partners in the affected districts. He began by expressing the Indian Church’s solidarity with Maharashtra and other flood-affected states. This year alone, he said, 11 stated bore the brunt of the disaster and more than 1000 lost their lives. The response is huge and the local church’s involvements in the same were appreciated.

“We have offered a collective response and now we need to explore ways to situate ourselves in long-term interventions”, he reflected.

Few suggestions and decisions taken as part of the coordination meeting are:

1. How to involve CRIs in the response activities – the Forum Director can coordinate their involvement in the response
2. The WRSSF can take the lead in coordinating the response of the Catholic Church in Maharashtra
3. A Whatsapp group will be formed for the Emergency Response coordination
4. Areas were divided between Pune (Sangli Slum and Miraj Rural), Sangli Mission Society (Palus, Shirala, Valva) and SDDS (Kolhapur, Shirol, Ajara, Gadhinglas, Banda)