By Francis Sunil Rosario
Kolkata: The Arch-diocese of Calcutta has inaugurated the commission for migrants in response to Pope Francis’ call address the global issue of migrants seriously.
Archbishop Thomas D’Souza, regional chairman of the Commission for Migrants, and Bishop Shyamal Bose of Baruipur attended the February 26 program at Seva Kendra, Kolkata/
The occasion was also used to conduct a seminar on migrants and their challenges in the post Covid-19 period and to motivate priests, religious, lay leaders of the archdiocese and neighboring dioceses to make some effective plan of action for the migrants and implementation of those plans along with the diocese’s pastoral plans.
As many as 45 priests, religious, lay leaders, and representatives from organizations working for the migrants attended the seminar.
In his opening address Archbishop D’Souza spoke on the urgency to address the issues of the migrants. He stressed the pastoral sensitivity of Pope Francis towards the migrants and the strategy to welcome, to promote, to protect and to integrate them into the mainstream line Church and society.
“I came to learn and not to give speech,” said Bishop Bose. He spoke about migration from the experience of his own village home. He also shared the experience of his family members who migrated to southern India to find jobs.
Bishop Bose presented the local conditions of the migrant workers post Covid-19 in West Bengal, particularly in his diocese.
Sacred Hearts Sister Sujata Jena in her keynote address presented challenges encountered by the migrants. Jena who worked extensively for the rights of the migrants during pandemic in eastern Indian state of Odisha, said, “we priests, religious being a ‘privileged’ ones must redesign our personal and community time to reach out to the poor and needy and accompany them with renewed vigor, compassion and solidarity during this trying time.”
The human rights activist nun further said, “Dalits and Adivasis are the most excluded communities. They are discriminated against access to, resources and relief, when disaster strikes. History has taught us, that when it comes, to distributing aid, Dalits and adivasis, are often those most in need and those most often denied access to relief, and state benefits.”
Jena recommended that the Church, Civil Society Organizations must contribute to whole-of-society approach in building peoples’ alliances as workers beyond narrow identity. It is imperative that open space dialogues and network platforms are created to bring together CSOs to develop collective strategies and plans.
Jesuit Father Irudaya Jothi, another resource person, elaborated the economic policy of the current government and how it systematically discriminates the poor and the marginals.
The seminar proposed the following plan of action to make the ministry of the commission for migrants effective in West Bengal:
– There should be Archdiocesan Pastoral Plans for the pastoral care of the migrants
– Besides, each diocese, religious congregation must have a concrete plan to reach out to the migrants.
– The diocese must re-focus on Families, Youth, Leaderships, Home visits, Small Christian Community, Basic Christian Community and various other pious initiatives.
– Every parish must maintain database and set a Help Desk connecting government schemes made available to the illegible ones.
– Collaborate and network with Government, non-government, civil society groups for the cause of the poor and migrants.
The inauguration of the commission for Migrants in the Archdiocese of Calcutta is indeed Good News in the light of world situation of migrants and especially the pathetic exodus of Migrant Labourers during the Lockdown imposed by the central government at very short notice. It is worth mentioning International Justice Mission had conducted a Webinar on this issue, especially Women Migrant Labourers. It is still to be known how the Archdiocese of Calcutta plans to alleviate the problems faced by Migrant population in terms of education, healthcare, housing and employment. One wonders whether the Archdiocese id equipped to work out a cohesive “strategy to welcome, to promote, to protect and to integrate them into the mainstream Church and society.”
The reason for this apprehension is the abject failure of the Archdiocese of Calcutta to implement its much-vaunted Pastoral Plan which was launched with much trumpeting in September 2017 Synod at Morning Star Barrackpore. The Archdiocese website reads: “With the publication of the Pastoral Plan and its effectivity from 2018-2022, APPCoT reviews and guides the Commissions and Parishes towards implementing the Resolutions of the Diocesan and Pastoral Parish Plans.” We are now in 2021 and are yet to see even an inch of the implementation – the output of all the Commissions at the grassroots level has to be seen with a microscope; what can be seen of course is plethora of meetings and consumption of tons of paper & cups of tea/coffee & snacks! All the Commissions went underground during the Covid Pandemic when the faithful needed them the most, especially the Health Commission which comprises seven doctors/medical professionals. No advisories were issued by these doctors in the Church Media (The Herald, Webinar, etc) on Immunity to Covid or preventive care. The faithful were left in the lurch to fend for themselves or depend on government media.
So one wonders how the Commission for Migrants (13th Commission) will be different from the existing 12 Commissions which have proved to be paper tigers. However, the last two resolutions adopted on maintaining parish-wise database and collaboration and networking with the government are very timely. Several times I had recommended these two to the current Archbishop and the Vicar General, but they fell on deaf ears. I had even made a template of the parish database and submitted it to them, but they were consigned to the dustbin. The duo simply do not want to take any constructive suggestion from the Laity except following the dictum “Pay, Pray and Obey.” The Archbishop’s prime concern appears to to get funds for the Archdiocese at any cost, so much so he has suddenly sprung a surprise by demanding that Rs 22 Lakh Fixed Deposit of Catholic Association of Bengal belongs to the Archdiocese of Calcutta and hence should be returned to it. He has not given any proof to substantiate his tall claim. Incidentally, these FD (Rs 17 + 5 Lakh) have been shown for years in the Audited Accounts under `Corpus Fund’ – a fund which cannot be broken except using interest accrued from it for giving Educational and Medical aid to the needy). Money is returnable only when it is given as an Advance or Loan. Can the Archbishop prove it? As the erstwhile Honorary Treasurer of Catholic Association of Bengal for the period September 2012- September 2015, I have written (on 13 February 2021) a letter to him on this. He is yet to make a reply.
A glaring anomaly of the 13 Commissions is the Archbishop is Chairman of all the Commissions, with his VG’s name appearing on at least four Commissions. This way they cannot do justice to any Commission except occupying the chair and mixing up Commissions. There is also a haze created as to who heads each Commission. In some it is Director, and in some it is Secretary. Each Commission should have a Director, at least the Laity Commission, just like the Social Communications Commission. Also one priest in the Education Commission has tainted reputation. He has several charges of sexual harassment of his female staff members. The last hearing (video-conference) on this issue was conducted by Founder Body-cum-Appellate Authority Salesian Province Kolkata on 13th January 2021. Wherever this priest goes, his reputation precedes him. He has created a situation where he might be taken to a court of law. So as of now, he should be asked to step down from the Commission, especially as the Archbishop is fully aware of the case and yet has taken ostrich-like stance.
One area where the Commission for Migrants can address immediately is to cater to migrant students who come to Kolkata for higher studies. They look out for economic and safe accommodation and are at the mercy of blood-sucking brokers for 11-month lease agreements. Without proper accommodation and food, their education is severely impacted. It can easily get the statistics of these students from the various Christian institutions. Can the Archdiocese address this immediate problem?