Project among the Adivasis.

Fr. Paul and Fr. Yuhanon Ramban among the Adivasi children

In response to a very recent tragedy of about 50 children dying due to malnutrition in the local Adivasi Area, the ashram has now got involved in a project called HELP (Health Enhancement Life Project). I just called up and spoke with Fr. Paul who gave me some details about the project.

500 glasses of milk is prepared, 500 eggs are prepared and 500 buns are bought each day as part of this project. Every day in the evening 3 jeeps leave from the Ashram for the Adivasi area with this food. Starting from the beginning of June 2013, its now past 2 months - we are planning this for an initial phase of 2 years.

Paul achen said he has suddenly become very busy because of this - but in his words "when something like this happens locally and we turn a blind eye - we will be asked by God". This project is led by the mission board of the Church under the direct supervision of Chrysostom Thirumeni, and is supported by the St. Thomas Ashram.

Besides these, there is a plan being envisioned by Rambachen and Paul achen - to begin a process in the close to 200 homes in the area - to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again. They are taking the advice of a gynecologist and putting together a nutrition kit which they can deliver to hopefully every pregnant lady and mothers who are nursing which includes Horlicks and other tinned items.