Kerala bishops to strengthen farmers movement

Source: Matters India

Kochi – Aimed at intensifying the fight for farmers’ rights, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has issued a circular urging the faithful to strengthen the Indian Farmers’ Movement (Infam), an independent movement of farmers initiated by the Church a few years ago.

The circular will be read out at all churches under the three Catholic denominations in Kerala. In the circular, issued by Infam Episcopal Adviser Bishop Mar Mathew Arakkal, the faithful are urged to form units of Infam at the ward level, mobilising all the farmers irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and politics, reorted newindianexpress.com.

Also, the bishops have been told to appoint directors for the organisation at the diocese or district level. Another suggestion is to organise district-level conferences by February end. A state-level conference of the leaders will be held on January 15 to mark the Farmers’ Day.

“It is the need of the hour that Infam be strengthened because we have to save ourselves. Infam has a proven track record in organising agitations to protect the rights of farmers,” the circular stated.

What inspired the Catholic Church in taking measures to intensify the activities of Infam is the crisis in the rubber sector. It is alleged that the wrong policy of the Central Government was the reason behind the present crisis facing the rubber sector.

“India currently imports seven times more the quantity of rubber than is required here. The Central Government has to control the import of rubber,” Infam general secretary Fr Antony Kozhuvanal pointed out.

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