Media Release
Bhubaneswar, Mar 16: Caritas India, the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) organized a reflection workshop followed by a celebration of Caritas India’s 50 years of service to the poor and marginalized in Odisha State on Wednesday and Thursday i.e March 14 and 15 at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Near Kalpana Square, here.
The programme was inaugurated on Wednesday March 14 with a panel discussion on the topic “Access to development and Rights” with special reference to Odisha context. On Thursday March 15, a public function was held to commemorate Caritas’s contribution in Nation building with specific focus on Odisha. Fr Frederick D’Souza, executive director designate, announced that Caritas India is building Regional Coordination Centre for the people of Orissa to coordinate various activites.
Caritas India ever since its inception has been engaged in working for the voiceless and deprived people in the society through various socio-economic, and development processes. In the last 50 years, its approach of interventions has experienced a paradigm shift from relief-work to proactive involvement in development and empowerment of the most vulnerable and excluded in the society. Caritas plays a
lead role through its different programmes on preparedness and development programs in relief, rehabilitation and support to the victims of
natural calamities like super cyclone, major floods(2011) and various forms of human-made violence in Odisha viz, communal riots in Kandhamal, empowering the tribals and dalits, especially women and vulnerable groups, through relief and rehabilitation, animation, CMDRR, peace building effort and IDEA programme in the remote areas of Odisha and enhancing the skills and knowledge of dalit and tribal communities to access their rights through capacity building and advocacy.
Caritas India has been intervening for the development of the vulnerable communities in Odisha since 50 years. Till date it has supported 929 developmental projects with investment of Rs 66.70 crores.
Caritas India, through its implementing partners in Odisha, has brought about changes in the lives of the people through helping them to access government entitlements, bring relief at the time of distress, become voice of the voiceless of the dalits who are being marginalised and deprived of their rights specially in Bolangir, supporting partners in enhancing their effort to make the society resilient of natural disasters in a few Gram Panchayat of Odisha. After super cyclone massive rehabilitation programme were implemented in Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Puri, numerous co-operatives have been formed and are now self sustaining.
During the riots in Kandhamal Caritas India provided relief and rehabilitation to 17760 families and built 664 houses. At present there is peace process is going on in all the affected districts by strengthening Panchayats.
Caritas India emphasize on contributing to eliminating abject poverty in Odisha through her development initiatives with proper coordination with government and like minded organizations. The important desirable objective is the poverty reducing capacity of different sectors in Odisha.
During the reflection workshop, the focus was on the status of the accessibility of marginalised and discriminated people towards the entitlements and development initiatives and how to ensure poor people enjoy their rights. It is also an opportunity to reflect the contribution of Caritas India in Odisha and expand her network of likeminded organizations- government. Department and other agencies for effective and efficient planning and implementation of various programmes. Hence this workshop is organised with the purpose of and expected outcome such as sharing experiences among partners in addressing accessibility of marginalised people towards the entitlements and development initiatives, deliberation on government ACTs/schemes/programmes related to rights and entitlements for the poor establish common understanding and create synergy among those involved in addressing the above issues and possible advocacy effort.