Partners in Change Making

Caritas India, the official social development wing of Catholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI) registered under Society Registration Act 1860, has been operating in India for the last 46 years. It is one of the largest faith based organizations (FBO) working in the field of relief and development in the country. It focuses on programs and services for the marginalized scheduled castes and tribes, fishing communities, landless labourers and the urban poor, particularly working with women and children.  Caritas India has a mandate from the Catholic Church, but it scrupulously and transparently does not discriminate against serving any populations on the basis of religion, caste, creed, gender etc. It is a secular organization registered under the Societies Registration Act of India.

Caritas India is a member of Caritas Internationalis (International Confederation of Caritas Organizations) and through this membership, it has attained a consultative status with ECOSOC, UNICEF, UNESCO, ILO & FAO of the United Nations. Caritas India is also a principle member of Caritas Asia -( a confederation of Caritas Associations in Asia serving 38 countries and territories)  and APHD -Asia Partnership for Human Development (APHD).

During the last four decades of its humanitarian and development effort, Caritas India with over 350 partners in India has served the poor and marginalized, without any distinction of caste, creed and ethnicity, with its true meaning from Latin. It means, Charity - Love. The name connotes the Church’s efforts to bring Compassion and Love to Humanity, as Mother Theresa aptly put it, Charity is Love in Action. Caritas India is always involved in providing succor through relief and rehabilitation and in the field of building the capacity of community to withstand the immediate impact of natural disaster through disaster preparedness and disaster Risk Reduction.

The first milestone in the field of relief and rehabilitation program undertaken by Caritas India dates back to 1970s. Relief support was lend to the refugees from Bangladesh. Other major relief and rehabilitation programs would include Andhra Pradesh Tidal Wave (1977), Orissa Cyclone (1988), Latur Earthquake (1993), Andhra Pradesh Killer Cyclone (1996), North India Floods (1998), Orissa Super Cyclone (1999), West Bengal Floods (2000), Gujarat Earthquake (2001) and the most recent ones being Tsunami response (2004), Kashmir earthquake response (2005) , India flood response (2007) and Bihar floods 2008.

During the last four decades of its humanitarian and development effort, Caritas India with over 350 partners in India has served the poor and marginalized, without any distinction of caste, creed and ethnicity, with its true meaning from Latin, Charity - Love.

One of the key thrust areas of Caritas India is; Linking Relief and Rehabilitation to Development (LRRD) and the organization has developed core competency in disaster management, Disaster Risk Reduction and preparedness and Natural Resource Management. Through these programs, Caritas India has always worked in partnership with the local state governments and the people. Caritas India has been involved in the field of animation of the poorest of the poor, across the country.

Caritas India is also one of the Task Force members of National Disaster Management Authority. Caritas India’s DM Team personnel are closely associated with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in developing the National guidelines on the Role of NGOs in Disaster Management by NDMA. Caritas India DM personnel and partners are in close collaboration with Inter Agency network such as Sphere India, Inter Agency Group, State and Disaster Management Authorities and personnel.

Local Partners: 

S/no.	Name of the Partner	Address
1.	Muzaffarpur  Diocesan Social  Service Center	Fr. Maria Selvam Seva Sadan Seva Kendra, Bibiganj Bhagwanpur Chowk Muzaffarpur – 842001, Bihar
2.	Bhagalpur Social Service Society	Fr. Martin Murmu Chancery Office,  Nawab Colony Post Box No. 61 Bhagalpur  - 812 001  (Bihar)
3.	Fakirana Sisters’ Society,	Sr. Mary Elise Banuchhapar,  Bettiah                West Champaran 845 438,  Bihar
4.	Bettiah Diocesan Social Service Society	Mr. James Seraphim Sewa Kendra,  Dussaiya Bettiah – 845438 West Champaran Dt. (Bihar)
5.	Bihar Water Development Society	Rev. Fr. Amal Raj S. Sewa    Kendra, P.O. Sadaquat Ashram, Kurji, Patna - 800010

Muzaffarpur Diocesan Social Services Society ( MDSSS)

is the official organisation of the diocese of Muzaffarpur For promoting social welfare development in twelve civil districts of Bihar namely Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Samastipur, Begusarai, Madhubani, Darbhanga , Supaul, Madhepura , Saharsa and Khagaria, since 1980, the diocesans social work department has been striving towards the integral development of the marginalised and underprivileged people of Bihar : particularly dalit and landless .

Vision: Promotion of a just humane society based on the human values of equality & peace.

Mission: To uphold the human dignity of the marginalised oppressed and displaced of Bihar through a process of socio-culture value addition, economic and political empowerment.

Fakirana Sisters’ Society (FSS)

is a secular, non-political, non-profit making voluntary organization registered under Society Registration Act of 1860 in the year 1956 Registration no 43 of 1956-57 dated 19-12-1956. A governing body that comprises of the Sisters of Sacred Heart is the governing body of the organization. The organization is working in Health, Education and Social Development with the help of its member sisters, executives, workers and volunteers in both the urban and rural areas having institutional base (branches) spread all over India. FAKIRANA SISTERS’ SOCIETY with an effort to reach the dark areas of the region through integrated Community Development and Health Programs identified West Champaran district of Bihar as one of the most backward districts, established its institution, and has worked for many years. The FSS has made efforts to make people aware and develop sustainable system in the villages particularly for health care and women empowerment. Linkage development with the State's Health and development system is the major emphasis of the organization. In order to raise the standard of living of people, to empower them, to make them conscious about healthy environment in the society, the organization has put all its effort and time-to-time programs have been conducted where people have cooperated and participated. The FSS has been working with the aim to work with the people, so as to make the community be involved for overcoming the problems, which exist in the society.

Vision of the Organization: The vision of the Fakirana Sisters Society (FSS) is the development of the most unprivileged section of the society through social action. It also emphasizes in the development of the poorest of the poor with the utilization of the existing resources available at the disposal of the community and making the community to take their own initiatives. The organization believes in that ‘God helps those who help themselves.’

Mission of the Organization: The mission of the FSS is to organize and strengthen rural people with an emphasis on women, so as to enable them to take social actions for achieving sustainable social and economic development and strives for a just and equitable society.

Bettiah Diocesan Social Service Society (BDSSS)

The Diocese of Bettiah was bifurcated from the Diocese of Muzaffarpur in November 1998 it’s first Bishop is Rt. Rev. Victor Henry Thakur. It comprises five District, West Champaran, East Champaran, Siwan, Saran Gopalganj. The Diocesan headquarter is in Bettiah. The Diocese shares a long border with Nepal in the North, the Diocese of Muzaffarpur in the east, the State of Uttar Prades in the west and the river Ganges in the South separating the Diocese of Bettiah from the Archdiocese of Patna.

The Diocese through its involvement in social, pastoral, health and educational activities serves people irrespective of cast & creed.  Approximately 90 to 95% of the total population is living in rural villages. The area lacks infrastructure facilities and civic amenities. Even the drinking water and other basic facilities are deprived especially from the poor and backward people.

Bettiah Diocesan Social Service Society (BDSSS) registered under the Societies Act, is a unit of Bettiah Diocese, primarily active in charitable and developmental works which includes education, health care, medical help to the poor and needy through various programs and any other utility and welfare. It is also working on the issues that are widespread in the society such as Socio-economic exploitation, caste system, oppression of women and children etc.  Various institution and centers of Bettiah Diocese are working in collaboration with BDSSS and apply projects and implement them for the development of people through its support and guidance.

 

Vision of BDSSS:

“To build a new society where value of love, Justice, equality and peace are nurtured and build with due respect to all irrespective of caste & creed.” 

Mission of BDSSS:

“To uphold the dignity of all, especially the poor and marginalized through an empowerment process by which all the people are enable to realize and foster their self worth and potential of every individual in Society”

Bihar Water Development Society (BWDS)

BWDS is functioning as the official relief and development agency of Patna Archdiocese, having its office at SEWA KENDRA, Kurji, Patna. It came into existence in the year 1967 and was registered in the same year under the Societies Registration Act. XXI of 1890.  It was a time when the people of Bihar were facing severe drought.  In such a situation, the prime task of the organization was to relieve people of the havocs of drought and consequent hunger and thirst.  Thus BWDS took the initiative to help people of the affected areas by undertaking various development projects related to agriculture and irrigation. Over the years, BWDS has also taken up and implemented many more projects related to education, health care, self-help groups and socio-economic development programmes.  The basic purpose behind these activities is to work for the upliftment of the rural masses and to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and the marginalized, especially of women who are deprived of self-dignity, confidence and self-respect and handicapped in many ways while struggling to come to the main stream of society. One of the main objectives of BWDS is empowering village women.  We intervene in different ways such as through health-care programmes, preventive health care, self-help groups, etc. for women.  Through these programmes, we aim at enhancing their self-confidence, power of decision-making, self-respect, self-reliance and ultimately uniting them together at the grassroots level to fight for their rights and dignity.  When they are united, they will be able to help each other to fight for one another’s cause.  Thus they take each step forward with inner strength and self-confidence.

Vision: We envisage a just and self-reliant society based on the Gospel Values of Peace, Love, Justice and Equality

Mission: Organize and empower the marginalized communities to take their rightful place in the society and to promote and preserve life in all its diversities