Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 3: The century-old All India Catholic Union, the largest Laity movement in Asia, has called upon the union government to devise a comprehensive national social security safety net, universal health Insurance and medical infrastructure so that "the calamity that befell millions of migrant labour and jobless rural and urban poor in the Covid pandemic-driven lockdown are never repeated."

AICU president Lancy D'Cunha, after a working committee meeting held over a conference call on April 30, has written a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard. It was the first time in AICU’s history that a WCM was conducted virtually.

In the letter, the AICU raised several issues that are of concern, as a people and as minority community. These were the decisions we reached at the WCM.

The first issue raised in the letter relates to the social and economic welfare of the poor. "We call upon the government to evolve a comprehensive social security network for the poorest of the poor, the migrant labourers, landless and unemployed youth. It was heart-rending to see people on the verge of starvation, reduced to beggary, and some dying even as they trudged hundreds of kilometres home. We hope you will soon announce employment guarantees and relief for the unemployed," the AICU stated in its letter to the PM.

Raising the problems faced by the health sector, the organization said, "AICU calls upon the government to build a national health service and health insurance and medical infrastructure system which would cover every citizen. We noticed that other than hospitals run by church and similar NGOs, it was the government medical infrastructure that is leading the fight against COVID-19."

On education, the AICU stated in the letter, "The Christian community is one of the single largest entity in the education sector after the government. We urge you to ensure creative collaboration with all in finalising the National Education Policy, revising it to incorporate lessons learnt in the lockdown. We think technology will help government and us to extend education to the last child.

AICU also called for the welfare of religious minorities, Dalits and tribals, especially in the wake of certain incidents reported during the lockdown. "The AICU was distressed to note that the lockdown situation has been abused by some governments, and non-state groups, to demonise and defame communities, and to target clergy and others. Christians, and people of some other faiths, pray as a congregation and community. As it is, COVID-19 has closed churches across the world. Pope Francis himself celebrated the holy Mass in seclusion, and we experienced it through the internet. We pray for being able to celebrate the Eucharist Mass in our parishes as soon as circumstances permit. But meanwhile, harassment of clergy and others must end wherever it happens," the letter stated.

AICU also urged the government to take measures to maintain Christian heritage churches in Old Goa. "The AICU working committee was alarmed to see the neglect and callousness on the part of the Archaeological Survey of India in maintaining the 424-year old Basilica of Bom Jesus, an A-grade national monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in which the relics of St Francis Xavier (Goencho Saib) is preserved.

"The historic sites also include, the St Thomas Church in Kerala and St Thomas Mount in Chennai, the most important shrines for the Catholic Church, not just for Indians but in the world. The parish priest also stated that the Archaeological Survey of India has left the ceilings of the Bom Jesus Church open to the vagaries of weather, and no steps have been taken to protect the five-century old monument from damage on account of impending rains and on the excuse that there are 'no funds'. Urgent action needs to be taken so that there is no threat to the relics and the Basilica," AICU urged, adding that AICU volunteers should be involved in the process of saving, preserving the Basilica of Bom Jesus "as it serves an integral part in the religious and cultural heritage of India".

AICU said that it stands in solidarity with the PM and the governments of India and of the states in combatting the virulent COVID-19 which threatens life directly and impacts the economy by affecting the industrial, agricultural and economical production. "The lockdown has impacted the migrant labourers, peasants, fishermen and tribals. The Church and the community, as you are aware, have been at the forefront of extending relief to the people across the country, especially in the urban slums, tribal villages and to the homeless. We assure the nation, through you, of this support as long as it needed in our love for the people. We quote our own Indian Saint, Mother Teresa, who said 'Love till it hurts’.

"We join you in saluting the frontline defenders, the doctors, nurses, researchers, paramedics, the sanitation staff and the police. Our Christian brothers and sisters are present in large numbers in the medicare fraternity," the letter to the PM stated.