By Adolf Washington
Bengaluru, April 23, 2020: Tears trickled down Girija’s cheeks as the mother of three narrated her woes during the nationwide lockdown.
“I can only take a place with a low rent since I have to save some money for the family,” said the sole read-winner for the family that lives in a 10×10 room in one of the slums of Bengaluru, capital of the southern Indian state.
Speaking of her husband, a chronic alcoholic, she says, “Any money he earns occasionally with odd-jobs, he exhausts it in drinking.”
She says her family has survived because of Karunalaya (above of mercy), a charity organization managed by Benjamin Thomas, a member of the Banaswadi Bible Church.
The layman and his team have over the years scouted for support to reach out to those in abject poverty.
“We make proper evaluation and documentation of those really in desperate need. With many donors and care-givers supporting us, we feel blessed by the Lord,” Thomas told Matters India when he came to the Bangalore Archbishops’ House to receive a consignment of rations to distribute among the poor, especially during the national lockdown.
“We are have also planned to add some toiletries and sanitary items to the ration kits we received from the Archdiocese of Bangalore,” he added.
He says people such as Girija, who survived on meager income from their temporary jobs, suddenly found helpless after the lockdown was imposed on March 25 for 21 days, which was later extended to May 3.
“There are many similar cases like Girija,” Thomas explained.
‘Karunalaya has been rendering help to the poor and marginalized all through the year. At his visit to Paalana Bhavan, the archdiocesan social service center, Benjamin said ” There are so many pathetic stories to share, but God is always our provider when we call on Him.
The archbishop has in his recent meeting with the relief team appreciated the work of religious priests and nuns who are actively engaged in relief work. Many of them, he said, are also contributing and collaborating with the archdiocese.
In an interview with Bangalore TV Channel News9 on 23rd April, the prelate said, the archdiocese and many Catholic religious institutions are rendering immense help on a war-footing through their teams.
“We in the archdiocese are reaching out to 6 districts under our jurisdiction in coordination with parish priests. We are also paying special attention to the socially ostracized, transgender and the hapless and stranded migrants,” he added.