Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 3: A three-member team led by Rt Rev Lumen Monteiro, Chairman, Caritas India, New Delhi, along with Fr Paul Moonjely and Kindam Singh undertook a two-day tour of Bishnah and Nagrota blocks to evaluate success of projects supported by the funding agency in Jammu region through Catholic Social Service Society (CSSS) of J&K.
The team first visited Bishnah where CSSS is involved in programs to facilitate livelihoods of people, particularly women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmers’ Clubs. A good gathering of more than 300 women and men welcomed the visitors and highlighted their stories of organisation, self-reliance and economic independence through various income generation programs and organic farming.
Speaking on the occasion, Bishop Lumen congratulated the women for their courage to organise themselves in smaller groups to build communities that care for each other.
Citing success stories of women’s group in Kerala, Fr Paul Moonjely, the Assistant Director, emphasized the need for women to get together and assert themselves to carve a respectable space within the male-dominated society. Ms Kindam Singh, Manager of North Zone, reminded the women that they can make a drastic impact in the society for a positive change.
At Nagrota, the team visited a centre for Beauty Culture which trains more than 40 women to acquire skills for livelihood as well as entrepreneurship. All the candidates at the centre have been enrolled with National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) which will further help them gain a diploma.
Later, the team visited Jari village near Jagti where man, women and youth who had gathered there highlighted their issues about lack of basic amenities such as road, transportation, water, schooling, healthcare etc.
The review meeting that followed the visit, was attended by all the coordinators of CSSS in Jammu. Bishop Lumen, appreciated the impactful developmental activities of Society throughout the State. Fr Jose, Vice President of CSSS exhorted the team to work on programs and launch campaigns in Jammu city to create awareness among general public solid waste management.
Fr Shaiju Chacko, the Director of CSSS coordinated the visit of dignitaries to Jammu along with his team comprising of Madhulika Sharma, Niamat Ali, Sr Ruby Joseph, Br Cheriatt Jose, Geeta and Parul.
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