Bangaluru Archdiocese Reaches Aid to Transgenders and Migrant Workers
Bangaluru: Over 300 Transgenders living in communes in various parts of Bangalore city were in for a surprise when relief teams constituted by the Archdiocese of Bangalore carried more than a week’s ration bags to provide succour for them during these depressing times. The Metropolitan Archbishop Rev. Dr. Peter Machado who addressed his team of relief workers (priests, nuns, seminarians and volunteers) said “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of so many individuals and organizations helping us in reaching help to people on the peripheries and more importantly, the socially ostracized”.
Transgenders who are usually found seeking alms at traffic junctions when the red-lights turn-on, have found themselves in deep despair after the lockdown with minimal traffic movement. Malathi ( name changed), reflects the extremely pathetic situation of many of her kind “We already suffer much humiliation, but with rations running out, we share the little we have with each other, even if it means skipping a meal a day. We have a generous bonding. But when such help comes in these trying times, we feel God cares for us. They expressed gratitude to the relief workers as the delivery vehicles chugged out to return again.
Metropolitan Archbishop Rev. Dr. Peter Machado
The Archdiocese of Bangalore serving 6 districts, has on 23rd April has garnered donations amounting to Rupees 8,789,174 .and also cooked food contributions from various sources including Atria Foundation. “In times of such despair and hopelessness, we have not lost hope. Our specific focus is also on migrant workers who are jobless, the homeless sick and even ailing on the roadsides. The dark clouds may loom large over us, but there is the radiant heart of God above those clouds” The Archbishop said. The Archbishop had inaugurated a Shelter-home within his campus on Easter Sunday 2 years ago. At present, six Educational Catholic institutions after fumigation and sanitization, are housing hundreds of migrants and also the homeless. We will do more after assessing the situation, the Archbishop said.
Trained personnel are also regularly rendering health and hygiene instructions at these camps and counselling to the emotionally disturbed are also being carried out. Relief work continues daily as vehicles with relief material reach parts of Bangalore (Urban and Rural) and also other districts under the Archdiocesan jurisdiction. A 100-plus strong team of volunteers are packing ration kits daily at Paalana Bhavan at Archbishop’s House.
Fr. Naveen Joseph, Director of the Bangalore Multi-purpose Social Service Society (BMSSS) is co-ordinating with both donors and also the hapless poor who are seeking help. “In these days of suffering love surfaces much more from generous people. We are pray together everyday in thanksgiving to God”.
Report submitted by : Fr. Adolf Washington, Archbishops House, Bengaluru
