|
 Since anti-Christian violence exploded across Orissa beginning on Aug. 23, 2008, the All India Christian Council has assisted the victims in numerous ways. The aicc continues to use its strengths in advocacy to push for long-term changes with authorities as well as justice for past atrocities. At the same time, we given practical help to those displaced by the attacks, mostly Dalit and tribal Christians. Here is a brief list of what has been accomplished as of Jan. 19, 2009.
In partnership with local churches, aicc has:
-- Distributed PHASE 1 of relief which included clothing, bedding, and toiletries. In mid-October, we helped 639 families (3,195 people) who had fled from 67 villages, mostly from Kandhamal District, to government and private relief camps. (for more, see http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2526/47/) In November, we helped 125 families living in private relief camps on the Andhra Pradesh border.
-- Provided complete care for 16 families (60+ people) who were sheltered from August-December at a private relief camp in the northern city of Balasore.
-- Assisted 27 businessmen whose shops were destroyed in riots in Dec. 2007 in Kandhamal District, Bamunigaon village. We provided each business a grant ranging from 10,000-25,000 Rs. as seed money for obtaining loans from banks and other sources. A total of 465,000 Rs. was given and this included two Hindu shops. Aicc state leaders asked the businessmen to use some of their profits to help re-start other businesses and this happened within six months to at least 2 other businesses who were given a loan of 15,000 Rs.
-- Sponsored about 100 Christian youth from Kandhamal and other affected areas to attend a conference held by Vision India in late October. This promoted the spiritual growth of the youth which will improve the long-term peace and communal harmony of Orissa.
-- Distributed Oriya Bibles in late November to 500 families in government relief camps both in Gajapati and Kandhamal Districts.
-- Prepared a special mid-December meal of chicken to 520 victims in private relief camps.
-- aicc is currently completing PHASE 2 of relief which began in late December. This includes a kitchen kit, clothes, and blankets packaged in a tin trunk/box or reusable bag. About 3,000 families will receive assistance such as those in government relief camps in Kandhamal and Gajapati Districts.
 Future plans for relief include rebuilding up to 31 destroyed churches which were identified as ones that are independent or will not get help from their denominations to rebuild. We are researching the needs of some Christians who want to rebuild their homes and businesses. A master plan for rebuilding homes has been written by the Roman Catholic Archbishop's office of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar and aicc will seek to support these efforts. Both projects will take into account how much money the government provides for rehabilitation. To nurture the long-term viability of Dalit and tribal Christians, there are plans to start self-help groups and micro-loan projects. now that people are slowly returning home and the situation has stabilised. In pursuit of justice, aicc is collaborating with the Catholic Archbishop and the Christian Legal Association of India to assist victims in filing FIRs and other court papers. As mentioned in other aicc documents, we are continuing many advocacy efforts such as a meeting on January 16, 2009 with the Director-General of Police in Orissa to discuss the current situation in Kandhamal District. We were honored to host numerous international journalists, five diplomats from the European Union, and human rights activists from the US and UK in recent months. All of these visits have resulted in a growing global awareness of the needs of victims and the importance of building a civil society in India that promotes harmony between adherents of different faiths. |
News 
