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http://www.goa-world.com/expressions/valentines/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CARITAS INDIA The Official National Organization Of The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. Web site: www.caritasindia.org. Phone: 022-26793417 Feb. 05, 2007 Caritas India to devise action plan to curtail farmers' suicide By Michael Gonsalves MUMBAI, Feb. 05 -- Caritas India, a largest national NGO of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, has devised an integrated program "Save Farmers-Save India" to curtail the farmers suicide rates in the country. "An integrated approach to the development of the farmers' region include a sustainable natural resource management, effective micro-credit groups and empowerment of farmers in fighting the high suicide rates among the marginalized farmers", Fr Varghese Mattamana, Executive Director, Caritas India, told reporters here today. He said the major focus this year of Caritas India would be among poor and marginalized farmers to arrest suicide rates and the major part of its annual Rs 100 crore would be spent on farmer's integrated development plan. Announcing a three-day Feb.6-8 national conference at Mumbai's Goregaon suburb, he underlined the need to reach the grassroots level in facilitating the progress of the marginalized farmers. "We are planning a large-scale intervention against farmers' suicides across the country based on our successful implementation of program in Wynad district in Kerala, where we were able to contain farmers' suicides", Fr Mattamana claimed. He said more than 2000 poor and marginalized farmers in Wynad who had joined self-help group (SHGs) development plan of Caritas India did not commit suicide. There are over 250,000 SHGs have been established among the marginalized communities across India , he said. "The SHG members have achieved leadership qualities and management capacity to make the best use of their small savings and also access resources from banks and governmental institutions to improve their quality of life", Fr Mattamana said. "We want to take that strategy to Vidharbha region in Maharashtra to reach out to the farmers where suicides rates have been on the rise", he said, "each of us is responsible for building a stronger India and therefore we need policies which are much more effective" The main theme of the conference is 'to revisit community empowerment methodologies and intervention strategies: human rights based approach to development'. The three-day meet would also discuss and finalize other action plans of Caritas India for the next two years, which would include feed back from representatives of partner agencies and external experts to firm up the plan based on the Wynad district of Kerala. Fr Mattamana asserted that the integrated program at Wynad district of Kerala helped contained the farmers suicide because of Caritas India's intervention. "Caritas India further plans to improve this strategy and spread to more areas including Vidarbha in Maharashtra state and Gujarat state", he added. Applauding the Caritas India's "noble work" in alleviating the sufferings of the underprivileged, marginalized farmers and other backward communities, Mahesh Bhatt, noted Bollywood film producer said, "It's heartening to see the Catholic priests, the men of God, stepping out and catering to the despair of millions, especially the anguished farmers, exploited tribals and endogenous people living on the periphery". "It is indeed heartening to see priests locking horns with the government of India in empowering the underprivileged and joining hands with them in realizing their dream," he observed. "The anguished farmers, some of whom are committing suicides, the poor and the underprivileged are entitled to a fair deal of justice. India needs to get back its moral values in place instead of moving dreams of being a super power", Bhatt said. "I too have benefited from the Catholic Church and I salute her for serving with religious fervor, the poor and the downdrodden for 59 years since Independence and I applaud the Church for the changes I see around", he said. "I just learnt Caritas, a Latin word, means love and service. To me if you love somebody, service comes naturally and that's what Caritas India has been doing since its inception 45 years ago in the Indian sub-continent, whether it is reaching out to the victims of earthquake disaster, Tsunami deluge, Mumbai floods, drought hit regions and farmers ending their lives in distress", Bhatt said. Caritas India, a non-profit organization, is the official social service arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. It was established in 1962. During the last four decades of its humanitarian and development effort, it has served the poor and marginalized, regardless of caste, creed and ethnicity. Caritas India is a network organization of 144 social service societies, 11 regional fora and NGO partners working for the sustainable human development and environmental management. END For Details Contact: Michael Gonsalves: 9823084995 -- Michael Gonsalves Consulting Editor 919, Synagogue Street Next to Oriental Bank of Commerce Camp PUNE 411 001 INDIA +91-20-26134857 or 26138097 Cellular: 098230 84995