wfn.org | Delhi Catholic Archdiocese Donates 22 Lakhs for Earthquake Victims

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

New Delhi 15 August 2001
On the solemn occasion of the Independence Day today, Archbishop Vincent
M. Concessao of the Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi handed over a Cheque
of  22 Lakhs to the Director of CARITAS INDIA, Fr. John Noronha for the
rehabilitation work in Gujarat after the Flag Hoisting ceremony at the
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gole Dakkhana.

"Though the amount of 22 lakhs is rather small, it is the spirit behind
the symbolic gesture, which should inspire crores of Indians on the
Independence Day to contribute their mite towards such humanitarian
causes", said the Archbishop while handing over the cheque.

The amount is collected by some of the Catholic institutions in the
Delhi Archdiocese over the past few months, though some institutions had
made their contributions directly to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.
Archbishop Concessao thinks the Independence Day to be a fitting
occasion to present the amount to the National Social Service
Organization of the Catholic Church to show its solidarity with the
suffering people of Gujarat. CARITAS INDIA is always prepared and ready
to provide succor to people affected by natural calamities all over the
country.

It is to be recalled that CARITAS INDIA has already spent Rs.18 Crore
for Gujarat relief and has a plan to spend an additional Rs. 80 Crores
for rehabilitation. It had similarly spent 25 Crores towards the work of
relief after the Orissa cyclone in 1999 and has already spent Rs. 2
Crores for the current flood victims in Orrisa and Bihar.

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Issued by
Dominic Emmanuel svd
Director
Communication/Information Bureau