Over 1,200 Needy Families Receive Income-Generating Tools and Essential Supplies in Diocese of Kolkata

Believers Church Diocese of Kolkata held a community development program in two island areas on 23rd and 31st December 2016, respectively in a bid to help families that are struggling to make ends meet. Altogether 1,205 needy families were helped through the programs.

The majority of inhabitants of these two islands live in poverty. They earn their living through daily labor, cultivation, fishing, hunting and collecting honey in the jungles. The money they earn is too little to meet their daily needs or save for the next day. They can never dream of having a good house and a fine cloth. Seeing their pitiable condition, the Church gifted them with income-generating tools to come out of poverty and other essential goods to help meet their basic needs.

Bishop Dr. Juria Bardhan, the Bishop of Diocese of Kolkata, handed out roofing materials to 70 widows during the program organized on 23rd December. The widows were each given ten sheets of roofing material. These widows are so poor and live in huts that cannot protect them from rain and scorching heat, so they were happy to receive these sheets. Altogether 700 sheets of roofing material were distributed that day.

On 31st December 2016, the church again distributed 100 fishing nets, 35 rickshaws, 20 bicycles, 50 sewing machines, 40 goats, 1,000 chicks, 20 paddy threshers, 200 sheets of roofing material, 500 mosquito nets and 50 tarpaulins to poor families in an another island. Also, 250 widows were given sarees.

Mr. Tapan Koyel (Panchayat Head) and other representatives from local police station were present on the occasion. Mr. Tapan thanked the church for consistently helping the helpless. Bishop Dr. Juria Bardhan and the guests distributed the poverty-alleviation tools and essential supplies to the beneficiaries.