Believers Eastern Church launches rehabilitation program for Cyclone Ockhi victims

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], Apr. 13 (NewsVoir): Believers Eastern Church announced the launch of a state-wide rehabilitation program for the victims of Cyclone "Ockhi".

The church will distribute 100 boats, 1500 educational kits and scholarship to the victims' families and children over the next two years in the affected areas of Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha and Kollam. The program will benefit more than 1000 families of this region.

The launch was announced in presence of Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Kerala, P. J. Kurien, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Thiruvananthapuram along with Rev Dr. K. P. Yohannan, Metropolitan, Believers Eastern Church.

Other eminent dignitaries like Mathew T Thomas, the Minister for Water Resource's, Govt. of Kerala; Mayor of Trivandrum, MLA of Thiruvananthapuram East were present.

"Whereas the government is always doing its bit to help victims of such natural catastrophes, it is important that the civil society participants also contribute towards relief and rehabilitation measures. Our government appreciates and welcomes such initiatives and will extend all possible support for the successful roll-out and implementation of this project," said Chief Minister Vijayan.

Cyclone Ochki had ravaged a large part of coastal Kerala late last year killing a large number of people besides leading to loss of property and means of livelihood for locals. Most of the affected families were of fishermen who not only lost their property and belongings to the cyclone, but also lost their only means of livelihood - their fishing boats. Through this programme Believers Eastern Church aims to reach out to and rehabilitate fishermen community and their families.

"When I visited the site sometime back I realised that merely by giving clothes or food we would not be able to address the problem. Livelihood and education are the two most critical pillars of any social order. Over the next two years we will address these aspects and reach out to more such victims who need a little helping hand," said Yohannan.

Church's numerous other programmes have benefitted thousands of children, women, leprosy patients and victims of natural catastrophes by providing them education, counselling, health camps, medicines, hospitals, shelter, rehabilitation and clean drinking water. (NewsVoir)