By Rani Punnasseril
New Delhi, Sept. 15, 2025: Catholics working among migrants in northern India on September 15 urged the Indian government to urgently develop a comprehensive national policy on migration.
“Such a policy will ensure job security and protect vulnerable citizens from the ever-present dangers of exploitation and human trafficking,” said Archbishop Anil J Couto of Delhi, chairman of the commission for migrants’ northern region under the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CBCI).
Archbishop Couto was addressing a workshop organized by the commission and the Delhi Lawyers Forum in New Delhi.
The event brought together 90 participants, including the secretaries of the Migrants Commissions from Jammu, Delhi, and Chandigarh, along with clergy, religious, lay leaders, and migrant representatives. They addressed the Jubilee 2025 theme: “Migrants – Pilgrims of Hope.”
Archbishop Couto, in his opening address, described migrants as “messengers of hope” whose courage and faith challenge the Church to build solidarity and defend human dignity.
He highlighted the archdiocese’s outreach to the internally displaced people in the national capital such as Manipur refugees, Burmese Catholics, distressed migrants, and domestic workers, calling their presence “a blessing that keeps our Church alive and vibrant.”
Father Stephen Alathara, CCBI deputy secretary general, in his keynote address recalled how the commission for migrants was set up in 2017 and became fully functional in 2019 under the leadership of Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur as chairman and Father Jaison Vadassery as executive secretary.
Father Alathara stressed that the commission is a timely response to the Church’s mission, reminding the participants that “to serve migrants is to serve humanity.”
Father Vadassery reminded the participants that Pope Leo XIV has called migrants “privileged witnesses of hope” and that their resilience, even in the face of suffering, is a living testimony of God’s faithfulness. He urged the Church in India to respond to this call with “concrete acts of welcome, accompaniment, and advocacy, so that migrants may feel they truly belong to the family of God.”
A panel discussion offered insights on trafficking, bonded labor, migrants’ rights, and pastoral accompaniment.
The workshop also presented testimonies of migrants.
Augustin Pausuandal Buansi, representing the Myanmar refugee community, shared their longing for permanent settlement while affirming that “India is mother to all refugees.”
Gracedeite Zou from Manipur recounted the plight of displaced families still living under the shadow of violence, underlining the urgency of long-term solutions.
The participants renewed their commitment to create awareness, document migrant realities, and strengthen collaboration among dioceses, congregations, and partner organizations to better support migrants and refugees.
They also agreed to jointly advocate for the national migrant policy that ensures protection, job security, and safeguards against trafficking.
They pledged to walk with migrants and refugees with compassion and solidarity, ensuring that all may truly live as pilgrims of hope.
A very noble venture reflecting the essence of christianity, love and compassion