KERALA JESUITS’ RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Kerala Jesuits were one of the pioneers in initiating migrant related services. Nearly a decade ago we started migrant ministries in Ernakulam area and other parts of the Province. The Covid-19 pandemic has opened up the reality of a large scale of migrant labourers. Fortunately there is a good network of the state machinery through the community kitchens and an army of volunteers. The nature of relief work in Kerala is quite different unlike other states. We are called upon to cooperate with the state machinery in all possible ways and our men and institutions have done so in various localities. There have been creative interventions in making sure effective supply of agricultural products, making sure supplies of masks and sanitizers in large quantities and direct distribution of relief materials to places unreached by state machinery.

  

Key Activity &Updates

#FOOD

550+ grocery kits for 646 migrant families
4500+ food packets to over 100 police personnel over a period of 45 days
14000+ kilograms of pineapples were collected under the “Pineapple Challenge” by Atmamitra, Kalady and was distributed to over 5500 families.

#GUEST_WORKERS_OUTREACH

Jeevika Migrant Ministry, Kalady acted as a nodal agency for the Kerala Provinces’ initiatives to reach out to the guest workers. Jeevika established Coordinating Online Hub at Kalady. They reached out to over 200 migrant groups/settlements across the state, providing food and other essential things, arranging state government aid. They also acted as nodal agency for various North Indian States.

#TRIBAL_CARE

Special care was provided for the needs of Tribal people in Wayanad and Attappadi. AADI Attappadi organised a pandemic conscientization programme in Attappadi Tribal settlements. Both AADI and TUDI ensures that the tribal families don’t run out of basic amnesties.

#MASKS

42000+ masks were distributed for public and police personnel across Kerala

#SANITIZER

1800+ bottles were prepared and distributed in Calicut City by Christ the King Parish, Malaparamba.
500+ bottles were prepared and distributed in Trivandrum City by Dept. of Chemistry, SXC, Thumba.
Online classes on “How to Prepare Sanitizer?” coordinated by Dept. of Chemistry, SXC, Thumba.

#FINANCIAL AID

350000+ Rupees distributed by various social work centres and parishes.
60000 Rupees contributed to CMDRF through CRI Kerala.

#ONLINE_COUNSELLING_AID

Kerala Jesuits catered to over 1200+ people through online counselling and stress-relief platforms. The centres involved were
  • Prashanthi Family Counselling Centre, Wayanad.
  • Atmamitra, Kalady.
  • ICTA, Santigram, Kochi.
  • Santhinilayam, Kottayam.

#ONLINE_CLASSES

‘Smart Parenting’ webinar by Atmamitra Kalady.
‘English Training’ online classes by Nirmala ITI Pariyaram.
‘Vedic Math’ webinar by AtmamitraKalady.

#ONLINE_ART

CARP Covid Creations- online art venture by Fr. Roy Thottam SJ. The programme coordinates various artists across the state to organize online art classes and art productions.