By I P Sarto

Dumka: The Christians of Dumka town in Jharkhand state on January 14 formed a human chain to support the protesting farmers in Delhi.

This initiative to support the farmers who are agitating for nearly two months at the border of the national capital was taken by the Small Christian Communities (SCCs) of St. Paul’s Cathedral parish in Dudhani, Dumka.

The SCCs made posters in support of the farmers and demanded the withdrawal of the new farm laws enacted by the federal government. Sushil Marandi, a leading social activist and practicing physician in Dumka,, explained the impact of the new laws to rallyists. The proposed laws will make the farmers depend upon the corporate houses, he added.

A few people of other religions too joined the human chain, said Rosa Soren, an SCC animator of the cathedral parish.

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Dudhani cathedral parish priest Father Emmanuel Murmu expressed happiness over his people’s courage to stand for human rights. “All kept social distance and many of them wore masks and sanitized themselves before the protest” the priest told Matters India. “We need to become socially conscious to address issues affecting our country,” he added.

Anu Isha Murmu, a college student, said she was happy to join the protest. “I saw in the TV about the farmers’ difficulties. Now I got a chance to express my solidarity for them,” she told Matters India.

The SCC groups of Dudhani helped the social arm of the Dumka diocese to prepare food and to distribute to the migrant laborers who passed by Dumka during May- June 2020, said Father Sonaton Kisku, director of the diocese’s social works. “Every day we distributed 150 food packets for the laborers who passed by our diocese,” said Father Kisku, who coordinated the relief works for more than two months.

Father Charles Soren, who witnessed the human chain, hailed it as an ideal step from the SCC group. In many SCCs people pray for the protesting farmers, the 84-year-old priest said.

Holy Cross Sister Christian Joseph, who coordinates the SCCs in Jharkhand, said her people also prayed for the farmers, besides organizing the human chain and protesting the farm laws.