ASIA/INDIA - Caritas campaign: end hunger and poverty, promote sustainable agriculture

Saturday, 29 February 2020 caritas   lent  

New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - "Sustain Life: Sustainable Livelihood” is the theme for this year’s Lenten Campaign which invites everyone to join hands and come together to be a catalyst. This nation-wide campaign is running for nearly five decades and is one of the largest faith-based fundraising efforts currently being conducted in the Indian Catholic Church. According to information sent to Fides, the campaign’s first National launch was initiated with Holy Eucharistic Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral celebrated by Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, co-celebrated with several priests involved in this pastoral sector. Similar initiatives are planned in the coming days at the diocesan level, supported and animated by the members of Caritas.
The recent imbalance in the economy has led to an increased economic burden on the poor and marginalised of the country. Socially, Indian society is highly unequal, divided into a different caste, religion, region, and gender which threaten to hurt India’s growth. In this context, Caritas India through its multidimensional presence in the most backward areas of the country is working towards building sustainable livelihood and improving lives for several individuals. Caritas India's goal is "to end poverty in all its forms everywhere" and "to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture".
Caritas India proposes six possible ways for organisations/institutions to run the campaign: Create platform for dialogue and linkages with the duty bearers especially for landless farmers; Create linkages with corporates to promote entrepreneurship options; Promoting young entrepreneurs at own parishes; Creating market facilities for both producers and buyers; Upgrading the existing skills to enhance livelihood opportunities; Support organisations to support grassroots interventions.
The campaign encourages individuals to start living lives with a sustainable approach by sustainable use of the natural resources, reducing carbon emissions by using eco-friendly methods of traveling, reducing/recycling the waste products, enabling community-led initiatives. (PN) (Agenzia Fides, 29/2/2020)


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