Believers Eastern Church launches rehabilitation program for Cyclone Ockhi Victims, 100 boats and 1,500 scholarships to be Given

On 11th April 2018, Believers Eastern Church Diocese of Niranam launched a state-wide rehabilitation program for the victims of Cyclone Ockhi at a function held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Sri. Pinarayi Vijayan (Chief Minister of Kerala) inaugurated the event. Dr. KP Yohannan, Metropolitan presided over the function. Other eminent dignitaries like Prof. P. J. Kurian (the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman), Sri. Mathew T. Thomas (Minister for Water Resources), Sri. V. S. Sivakumar (MLA, Thiruvananthapuram), Swami Gururethnam Jnana Thapaswi, H.G. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Coorilos Metropolitan, H.G. Dr. Gabriel Mar Gregorios Metropolitan and Rt. Rev. Joju Mathews Episcopa also graced the event with their presence and delivered felicitations.

Inaugurating the initiative the Chief Minister said, “While the government is doing its bit to help victims of such natural catastrophes, it is important that the civil society participants also contribute towards relief and rehabilitation measures. Our government appreciates and welcomes such initiatives and will extend all possible support for the successful roll-out and implementation of this project,” He then handed over an oar to an Ockhi victim’s family member.

Later, Prof. P. J. Kurian and Sri. Mathew T. Thomas distributed educational kits to the children of Ockhi victims.

On the occasion, the Church distributed three boats to the victims’ families. The Church will distribute 100 boats, 1500 educational kits and scholarship to the families and children that were affected by the cyclone Ockhi over the next two years in the affected areas of Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha and Kollam, which will benefit more than 1000 families in this region.