By Rani Punnasseril
New Delhi June 16, 2023: Archbishop Anil J T Couto of Delhi has announced relief support to people of the violence-stricken of Manipur, a northeastern Indian state.
Addressing a meeting organized by the diocesan commission for migrants on June 16 at the archbishop’s residence, the prelate said the archdiocese has already collected and sent relief materials to Manipur in collaboration with North East Catholic Community of Delhi (NECCOD).
The archbishop voiced his concern over people from Manipur stranded in the national capital and he urged his people to respond to their needs. The archdiocese has assured all support including health and education.
The immediate need of food will be addressed at the earliest through the Basic Ecclesial Community of each parish, said Father Suresh Babu, the secretary of the Basic Ecclesial Community.
The meeting decided to support the Manipur migrants with ration, medical assistance – both for physical as well as mental health — and education. Thirty three participants from various organizations attended the meeting.
Auxiliary Bishop Deepak Tauro of Delhi in his message pointed out that the meeting took place on the ‘International Domestic Workers Day’ and urged the participants to thank all domestic workers for their contribution to society. “Without their support families and institutions are handicapped,” he added.
Bishop Tauro also regretted that said the greed of the vested interests trespasses the need of the poor. The misuse of power trespasses the right of the needy. The arrogance of the majority trespasses the rights of the minority. “So, when there is trespassing, pain is inevitable,” he urged the participants to help the migrants who are in distress.
The meeting was told about the recent death of Preeti Kujur, a 16-year-old girl from the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand who worked as a domestic worker in New Delhi. The media ignored her death in her employer’s house.
The first information report dismissed the death as a suicide case, but the archdiocese’s migrants commission refused to accept the report. The police hushed up the matter, the commission alleges.
However, the commission has alerted all organizations working among domestic workers the need to be vigilant.
A participant said the situation in the national capital is alarming as it has already reported a number of human trafficking cases.
Nirmal Gorana, the founder of Mehnath Kaksh and a human right activist, spoke on human trafficking. which he said, was ampant and a blooming business for the illegal agents in northern India. The coordinator of ‘National Campaign Committee for Eradication of Bonded Labour’ said his organization has rescued 20,000 bonded laborers across India in the past ten years. Among them, 90 percent were victims of labor trafficking.
Gorana also said the Archaeological Survey of India launched a massive demolition drive, tearing down close to 1,000 houses in Tughlakabad, one of underprivileged areas in the capital. But they are neither compensated nor given houses. “The irony is that they are offered rented houses which will be an income for the government,” he added.
Gorana further said no law exists to protect the right to housing. India has no rent ceiling rules helping house owners demand any amount as rent.
Father Jaison Vadassery, the executive secretary of the Commission for Migrants, recalled Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023, ‘Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay.’ The priest also said people’s rights are being curtailed who flee from their homes, as happens in Manipur.