Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Pondicherry (Agenzia Fides) - “We are working to help tsunami affected people in Tamil Nadu resume normal life rebuilding and repairing structures but also offering psychological care for traumatised people, mainly children and young people”, Fr. Varghese Mattamana executive director of Caritas India since April 2006 told Fides. Fr. Varghese intends to organise Caritas activity in humanitarian assistance, cooperation in development, sensitisation, in front line to foster respect for human dignity and rights. Almost two years since the tremendous seaquake in South East Asia the local Caritas offices supported by Caritas International, has already provided 10,000 new homes in various different dioceses in Tamil Nadu, and another 10,000 homes almost ready will soon be given to affected families, starting from the poorest ones.
Caritas works along side other Catholic agencies and NGOs. Rome based S. Egidio recently handed over the keys of three new primary and middle schools in the fishing villages of Saveriarpuram, Keelavaippar and Verapandiapataman in Tamil Nadu. The schools are for a total 1,300 children from 650 families.
In Tuticorin S. Egidio has supervised the building of 11 schools, “a school is the best way to show concern for children and give hope for a better future”. Besides other school, over 168 homes also part of S. Egidio’s aid programme in southern India, are ready to be handed over to affected families. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2006 Righe: 27 Parole: 271)
