Church of North India - Covid support
The Church of North India, Jalapur has received funds of £15,000 from the World Mission Fund for its Covid relief work to support front line workers salaries and bring emergency relief for the most vulnerable.
The Most Rev. Dr. P. C. Singh, Moderator for CNI synod & Bishop Diocese of Jabalpur writes:
"The Novel Corona Virus that had lead to Pandemic has affected us all. Some of the worst effects were not only health and limited mobility but also hunger, joblessness and acute poverty. We have witnessed the world turning upside down and still things around us do not make any sense…and we are still figuring it out! As a rule, the worst affected are always the vulnerable group consisting of daily wage earners, women and children.
As a church, we have witnessed strange times. The churches were closed, services withheld, functions stopped and the other side effects include increased social isolation, mental stress and anxiety. Our Pastors and our front line workers, who are posted in the extreme rural locations suffers multifold. They are working and at the same time totally cut off from every kind of physical, mental, spiritual and resource support. Their family suffers too along with them.
The education of children got affected negatively. With churches and schools being locked down and without any mobility, the finances suffered. The on line education system demanded a new version of outreach and education both to the pastors and to the school children. Inability to afford a phones and data which is necessary to the ministry and also of their children education posed a threat no one ever imagined. Inability to pay school fee of their children was another disruption.
The health issues amongst pastors and front line workers have seen sudden surge. The number of pastors having cardiac issues, along with COVID and other psychological complication got worse during this CORONA Lockdown. The lack of emergency health support and paucity of available funds has been a pathetic factor. Health sector and its services are going through the crucial times. Doctors on call are not available and the health insurance has gone sky rocketing high. People are left to die as the basic cost of life increased immensely.
The Need
The much predicted third wave has hit the neighboring states and there has been a constant rise of health emergency cases. The situation depilated before things could even re start. The increasing cases of dengue, malaria and typhoid are constantly increasing along with COVID. The medical services have proven to be acutely insufficient. The cost of life has gone sky rocketing high. The famous statement “the rich are getting richer and poor are getting poorer” is so real today. Education is unaffordable for the common man. The sources of income had dried up. It’s a threefold attack, on health, education and income.
The Project
The proposed project seeks to help the people who have been severely affected by COVID and lockdown are the primary concern of the project. The category of people likely to get benefitted from the projects could however, be divided into two; the people who are directly working with the Diocese (in the city or in the remote locations (pastors, field workers, office bearers, volunteers, staff, congregations), and the people in the community where we are operating (child labourers, migrants / migrant labourers, family members of the employees, the sick and the needy (irrespective of their association).
The support will be in two forms - Financial support for diocese staff and volunteers: provision of water, food, sheets/blankets and clothing for communities where the church is working.
Through World Mission Partnership, the Methodist Church in Ireland contributes annually to the World Mission Fund.