By Jessy Joseph

New Delhi, March 3, 2020: The government of Jharkhand has sought the Catholic Church’s help to aid those stranded in the eastern Indian state because of the nationwide lockdown.

“We have been invited by the government to join the relief work for stranded laborers in border district of Ranchi,” says a statement signed by Jesuit Archbishop Felix Toppo of Ranchi and Auxiliary Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas.

The workers have been stranded by the nationwide lockdown Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered from the midnight of March 24 to contain the spread of COVID-19 or coronavirus.

The deputy commissioner of the Ranchi district “has entrusted the full task and responsibility to the Catholic Church for providing shelter, food and basic amenities to be stranded laborers who have nowhere to go after the lockdown was imposed,” says the April 2 note from the Ranchi prelates.

The lockdown has caught millions of migrants and daily wagers off guard, leaving them no time to return home.

“This is an immense task given that we are dealing with an infectious disease, a lockdown and a humanitarian crisis,” says the press release that estimates around 10,000 stranded laborers in the border districts of Ranchi.

The bishops expressed happiness that priests, major superiors and representatives of religious congregations in the archdiocese have offered their people and institutions to help the migrants.

Those with facilities have allowed their use while others have offered to help with human resources and other contributions, the bishops said.

“We feel proud to have such wonderful co-workers in these critical times. Our youth, men and women have also expressed their willingness to be part of this work of mercy.”

The bishops point out that the Catholic Church has always remained in the “forefront in times of crises” collaborating with the governments.

The prelates urged their people to come forward “charitably, generously, with courage and without fear” after taking the “best safety measures” to prevent infection.

Bishop Mascarenhas, who will coordinate the work, assured people their pastors leading them from the front.

The archdiocese has already opened 12 of its schools on the district boarders on April 3 and gave first training to 100 volunteers.

The bishops’ statement also suggests ways to support the work by offering to be volunteers or support it with donations and prayers for the success of the mission and the safety of all.

Ranchi is the nerve center of the tribal Church in India’s central and east regions.

Earlier, the two prelates had requested their fellow prelates in the country to take care of tribal migrant workers stranded in their dioceses because of the lockdown.

Jharkhand is now ruled by a three-party coalition led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM, Jharkhand liberation front), a predominantly tribal outfit. The other partners are the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress.

The chief minister is 44-year-old Hemant Soren, son of Shibu Soren, one of the JMM founders.