AHMEDABAD, March 21, 2001

Christian Council alarmed at crisis of moral values, corruption

Quake rehab in Gujarat to focus on Long-term Medicare, Education and 'Rebuilding lives'

The All India Christian Council National Executive has expressed deep concern at the moral crisis in public life exemplified by the corruption and bribery scandals in the Power, Defence and internal security sectors involving the highest political, civil and security personnel recently exposed by Internet newspaper tehelka.com. Calling for probity and accountability in all spheres, the Christian Council has called on Civil Society and secular forces to take leadership in checking the moral decay and the erosion of the secular and pro-poor guarantees of the Constitution of India.

Dr. D' Souza said in a packed Press Conference at Ahmedabad today that the political leadership of the day cannot obfuscate its role in this corruption, nor can government shirk its responsibility in bringing to book all those guilty, however high they may be. Civil Society must mobilize national opinion against the nexus between powerful national and international monopolies and the military-industrial sector, the criminal underworld and political parties and leaderships. A developing nation such as India cannot afford its secular democratic processes to be in anyway at the mercy of corrupt elements, its development processes hijacked and resources siphoned off in bribes and profiteering. Political parties must also do deep introspection of the decay that has set in.

The moral bankruptcy in the ruling political apparatus is aggravated by the continuing effort to negate Constitutional guarantees of Freedom of Faith, and affirmation of Identity. Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Dalits and Tribals, together with the Christian community, have all been victims. Mr. Dayal briefed the press that the Council's national executive took special note of the bias in the Census enumeration, and it plans to challenge it in a court of law in collaboration with Dalit and tribal groups. It also considered the implications of the working papers released by the Constitutional review Commission, Mr. Dayal mentioned.

The Council committed itself to work towards a united response by the Poor and the Marginalised, the national secular forces and the Minorities to the challenges posed to democratic processes by sectarian violence, persecution and hate campaigns, and the economic crisis in the wake of globalization.

Violence is the most visible form of terrorizing and dis-empowering of minorities and marginalized groups. Minorities will face a major crisis in the future because of economic factors generated by rampaging processes unleashed in our developing economy by globalization. The government is now in the process of formulating the tenth Five-year Plan. Our studies have shown that the development and welfare measures of earlier Plans have not been implemented in any great measure. The Christian community is a particular victim of this. Unless we intervene at this juncture, we fear the economic and developmental impact on the minority communities in the future will be drastic. The council has recently given to the government a detailed 15 point charter urging urgent steps for the economic empowerment of minorities, particularly those of Dalit origin. The charter has been submitted to the Planning Commission, which is now in the process of formulating the Tenth Five-year Plan.

Though it is comparatively new on the national scene, the All India Christian Council has reasons to feel happy at the role it has played in mitigating the suffering of people during natural calamities. Learning from its experience of the relief and rehabilitation programs after the super cyclone in Orissa, the Christian Council and its membership, together with other Christian agencies, has helped mobilize major financial, medical and material resources to bring urgent relief to the victims of the Gujarat earthquake, specially those in the districts of Bhuj, Jamnagar, Surendarnagar and Ahmedabad. The All India Christian Council is now engaged in formulating a comprehensive rehabilitation programs, including a major initiative in education and Health services in the areas of work.

The Council's long term 'Rebuilding lives' Programme for quake affected Gujarat calls for specialty and general Medicare units and outreach in the more remote areas for reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation and counseling. Education programmes for children and young neo-scholars will also have a strong counseling segment. All of the council's rehabilitation activities fully engage constructive collaboration and cooperation of the local people who were the worst victims of the devastating earthquake, and before that, of cyclones.

Highlights of the activities for the Council and its constituent members:

Bhuj District:

1. On the 27th January, provided the 1000 food packets ( dhebra, pickle, namkeen,biscuits) 3000 water pouches on 27th January.

2. Till 10th of March, we have facilitated 12 medical teams from Humedica, Germany and USA comprising a total of 95 doctors ,nurses and dentists to Adhoi, Samkhayali, and its surrounding villages, Bhuj, Gandhidham and a few villages surrounding

3. With the partnership of Operation Mobilisation, Humanitarian relief, Humedica, Germany so far we have distributed 3000-food kits, tents, baby food (milk powder) and blankets. Also with the partnership of Korean group we have distributed 1000 food kits in the metal boxes, clothes blankets and tents.

Jamnagar District:

1. On the 27th the District unit plunged into action by starting food packets in the surrounding and remote areas of Jamnagar District.

2. Distribution of Relief kits to 1000 families in the Jodhia Taluka that contained Ration and immediate need based items for a family to live for 15 days.

3. District President of aicc coordinated Distribution of 11,000 relief kits comprising of Tarpaulins, Blankets, 9 utensils and Sarees and Dhothis in the villages of Jhodia Taluka with other agencies

4. Community Kitchen in the village Dharampur is still on even today since the earthquake.

5. 70 Govt. Schools were given tents for immediate shelter for Children to start schools.

6. Conducted Medical Camp with a team of 11 medical professionals from Korea - Global Care and 12 local persons of aicc for 10 days.

7. Medical units are still functional with the help of other agencies

Ahmedabad District

1. Donated Medicines and Medical Equipment to Municipal Corporation Hospital worth Rs. One Crore

2. Donated 150, and 300 tents in the City area of Ahmedabad

SurendarNagar District:

1. Distributed 2500 tents in Dhangadhara Taluka along with the District Collector

Today the president will flag off six trucks of last relief material that will be distributed in surveyed areas of Bhuj district where the relief did not reach or had exhausted.

The long term plans of reconstruction are going on the with Health Ministry officials and the Collectors of various districts for rebuilding of homes.