Chaitanya, Shimoga, June 11, 2020: The Shimoga Multipurpose Social Service Society and the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Singapore jointly launched the programme entitled, “Enhancing the Living Standards of Poor and Marginal Families through Sustainable agriculture, Quality Education, Income Generation Activities and Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle” on 11 June 2020 at 3.00 pm in Chaitanya, Centre for Social Action. Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, the Bishop of the Diocese of Shimoga and the President of SMSSS presided over the launching programme. Mrs Vaishali M.L., Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Panchayat, Shimoga was the Chief Guest.
The Director of Chaitanya and the Executive Secretary of SMSSS, Rev. Fr Clifford Roshan Pinto in his key note address gave a brief idea about the whole programme. He noted that instead of expecting changes in the society we must become agents of change. Being associated with SMSSS all of us are called upon to bring about this change in our working area through the successful implementation of the programme we are launching today. Our work with the small and marginal farmers, marginalized women, unemployed youth, children and their parents is an opportunity for us to bring about the desired change that leads the families towards development and transformation. The director thanked the Rector of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Singapore, Msgr Philip Heng, SJ and the team members of Social Mission Ministry Team and all the generous donors for financially supporting SMSSS to implement this programme. The director requested all the participants to gratefully remember the generosity of the Rector and the team and pray for their intentions. The director also thanked everyone who were involved in preparing the programme.
After launching the programme, Mrs Vaishali M.L. appreciated the services of SMSSS to the society and specifically highlighted SMSSS’ focus on small and marginal farmers. She spoke about the various schemes available for the poor and marginal in the society and it is the NGOs like SMSSS who are a link between the poor and marginal people and the government offices. She also noted that because of the awareness created among the people in remote areas the work under MGNREGA is being successfully implemented and thousands of poor and marginal families are benefiting from this scheme.
In his presidential address Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ thanked the donors, Msgr. Philip Heng, SJ, the Rector of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Singapore and the team monitoring the Social Mission Ministry for their generous support. He also thanked the director of Chaitanya and the staff for their wonderful service to the society through their committed work. Taking a point from the Scripture reading, “let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love,” the Bishop stated that God gives several opportunities for each and every one of us to love God through our smaller acts of charity towards our neighbor.
The goal of the programme is to enhance the living standards of poor and marginal families through sustainable agriculture, quality education, income generation activities and promotion of healthy lifestyle. This goal can be achieved through ensuring sustainable use of existing natural resources; promotion of organic farming methods to ensure food and nutrition security through the use organic manure, vermicompost, pipe compost for cultivation; improving the quality of education in our schools; improving the family and health conditions of poor families, especially women in our working areas; providing different life skill trainings like tailoring, beautician, etc. to the unemployed; poor and marginal women taking up some income generative activities; etc. The launching programme ended with the vote of thanks proposed by Mrs Precilla Martis. Mr Jagadeesha K.H. compered the programme. Mr Madhusudhan welcomed the gathering.
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