By Thomas Scaria
Mangaluru, June 22, 2023: The Claretian congregation has pooled resources from its five provinces in India to support the victims of ethnic violence in Manipur.
Violence has ravaged the northeastern Indian state since May 3 after the Majority Hindus belonging to the Meitei community clashed with the minority Kukis tribals who are Christians. More than 100 people, mostly Kukis, have been killed so far and hundreds are now in relief camps.
“Most of the Kukis are refugees in their own state and they have no support from either the government or from outside,” laments Claretian Father Joseph Mappilaparambil, in charge of the social apostolate of the northeastern province of the congregation.
The priest, based at Assam’s Guwahati, the hub of the region, told Matters India that they started supporting the Manipur victims, who have fled to Assam and Mizoram. “Now we could reach out to the camps in Manipur with the help of some Protestant pastors,” he said and said his congregation has a house in Manipur.
The Claretians have organized an interfaith and ecumenical meeting under its social service wing, “Nav Jan” (new people) on May 9 that was attended by the members of various religious congregations, churches and religions.
On May 11, the team distributed relief materials to some 100 people at Oasis School in Mairapur under Borjhar on the Manipur border. They continue the service with help from donors, churches and well-wishers.
The priest, who has worked in the region for the past 30 years, estimates that more than 50,000 people now stay in various relief camps in Manipur.
The Claretians on June 4 organized a solidarity rally with interfaith prayer service and a candlelight procession at St. Claret Church and school premises. More than 200 people from various churches and communities attended.
“Thereafter, more people are involved in helping Manipur,” said Father Mappilaparambil, who collects food items, mosquito nets, biscuits, baby food and dress items from the public and sends them to various camps. They also organize medical camps in some camps.
Claretian Father George Kannanthanam, the director of Hope Society in Bengaluru, has supported the northeastern team by pooling resources from other parts of India and reaching them to the Manipur camps.
“We reached out to the people of Manipur irrespective of their religion or tribes and our support is purely on humanitarian grounds,” Father Kannanthanam, who refused to talk about politics that caused the unrest.
“We are planning to reach out to more such camps in the coming days with more relief services including medical camps,” he said and added Caritas India is involved in a big way to support the people in Manipur.