By Purushottam Nayak

Balliguda, June 3, 2020: Human rights activists in Odisha have mourned the death of a Catholic social worker in a road accident in the eastern Indian state.

Jamaj Parichha, who worked for Dalits, tribals, and Other Backward Class communities, died in Bhubaneswar on June 2. He was 59.

Parichha and another social worker were going to Balliguda from Raikia town in Kandhamal district on May 30 when their motorcycle hit a cow. Parichha, who rode pillion, sustained deep head injuries that led to internal bleeding. He was taken to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.

After surgery, his condition worsened and he succumbed to his injuries three days later. His companion, who was also wounded, is in a stable condition.

Father Augustine Karinkuttiyil, former director of Catholic Charities, a social service wing of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archdiocese, hailed Parichha as a promoter of social justice and community development.

“Kandhamal lost a dedicated and sincere social activist,” Father Karinkuttiyil told Matters India mourning his associate’s untimely death.

Parichha had joined the Church aid agency in 1986.

Father Karinkuttiyil and Parichha cofounded Jana Vikas (people’s development) at Kanjamendi in Kandhamal.

After eight years, Parichha started an independent NGO, Gramya Pragati (village development) with Balliguda as base.

When funding agencies stopped supporting rural development in India, Parichha began practicing law at a civil court in Balliguda and fought for the poor and the marginalized.

By then he had two Church NGOs for some 25 years.

Father Madan Sualsingh, current director of Jana Vikas, said Parichha had “a heart for people. As a board member, he shared his expertise for the smooth running of the organization.:

Father Dibyasingh Parichha, current director of Catholic Charities and the first cousin of the deceased, said the lay social worker had spent most of his life for the advancement of weaker section and poor people.

Chinmaya Kumar Singh, a colleague, said Parichha was a right based social activist and a researcher. “He worked for community devolvement, health, education, and livelihood of people,” he added.

Rashmi Pradhan, a 55-year old tribal woman and leader of Self Help Groups in Rutungia, Balliguda, said Parichha had brought “a change in the social and economic life of our community.

Nirmala Nayak, a Dalit leader of Self Help Groupsin Pobingia, said Parichha taught them the saving habit and to “stand by ourselves by utilizing our available resources.”

Biprocharan Nayak, a human rights activist from Balliguda, recalled Parichha stood for the justice and rights of the victims of the anti-Christian violence of 2008.

Parichha was born on January 1, 1961, at Padunbadi, a Catholic village under Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish, Mondasoro, under Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archdiocese.

He is survived by his wife, daughter and son.

He did his primary education in his village followed and at St. Vincent’s M.E School, Mondasoro.

He also did his law degree in 1982 in Berhampur.