Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jul 22: The farmers are a harassed lot. Their lives have become unbearable because of multifarious problems like failure of rainfall, shortage of labourers etc. It is also true that he young population, after getting educated, turn towards the cities. But, in order to inculcate among the people of the diocese a sense of love towards nature, and to inspire the youngsters to take to agriculture, by following the message of love of the nature, the young members of the diocese here have taken an initiative to make the youth to evince interest again in farming by transplanting seedlings in barrel land.
The fear that the earth might turn barren if the people let go of agriculture as their way of life has now spread all over the world. Pope Francis, in his letter to the people of the world, Laudato Si in 2015, had laid added emphasis of environmental awareness. Following in these ideals, the task of tilling barren lands situated within 54 churches of the diocese here under the aegis of Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) has been undertaken. By inspiring the young people to raise seedlings sin their own fields and transplant them, the concerned have taken another steps towards creating environmental awareness and for popularizing agriculture again.
By earnestly following the Pope's advice under ICYM, the young men have made sincere attempt to popularise agriculture as a way of life. This task has already been complied with in the jurisdictions of about eight to ten churches. On Sunday, July 21, young people under Kalmadi church enthusiastically took to agricultural fields and planted the seedlings. The scene of elders teaching the young people how to go about the activity was seen on that day, as this happens to be first ever agricultural experience for several of the young people.
On each Sunday, youngsters have been taking part in agricultural work. As a result, thousands of acres of land that had been uncultivated since long are now enveloped in greenery. The people who take part in the morning prayer service in churches and undertake farming in the afternoon. The special significance of this programme is that even the priests of churches are getting involved with this activity. These young men themselves undertake tilling with the help of tillers, tractors, bullocks and ploughs etc and then plant seedlings grown for the purpose in the land that has been prepared.
ICYM, in tune with the wishes of the Pope, has undertaken this important work. They plant trees and plants in church jurisdiction and also take responsibility of their safe keep. ICYM plans to continue with the programme every year henceforth. ICYM as a result, has been successful in making people stop and take notice of what they are doing. ICYM local diocese president, Dion D'Souza, says that the Christian community all over the world has undertaken this initiative and its fruits will be ready to be repeated in coming years.