Catholic Relief Services to celebrate 60 yrs of social work

Ahmedabad, Apr 20 (UNI) The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) that has been working for socio-economic betterment of people in Gujarat has planned a two-day programme from tomorrow to celebrate its 60 years in India.

The CRS in its over four decades of presence in Gujarat, have helped the poor people living in villages by involving them in their own development and helping them to realise their potential, said CRS India Deputy Country Representative Alexander Matthew here today.

Mr Matthew told reporters here that CRS started its services in Indian villages in 1946 and after few years it entered in Gujarat.

He said, in Gujarat, the CRS has been collaborating with its partner-organisation spread through the length and breadth of the state. We have reached out to nearly 53,000 people spread over 500 villages across the 25 districts of Gujarat, he added.

Mr Mathew said, the programmes it undertakes include activities in the field of health, education, agriculture, watershed management, social forestry, peace-building, and working among people affected by HIV/AIDS.

Some 600 people involved with CRS programmes, primarily from villages, are expected to participate in its two-day celebration. The programmess will be held at Preksha Bharati in the state capital, Gandhinagar. The celebrations will include critical appreciation of CRS programs and cultural programs, he said.

When asked, he said, the CRS spends over 1.8 million US dollar per annum in Gujarat.

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