Statement condemning the Torture, Rape and Murder of a Dalit Woman Law Student in Kerala.

Jisha, a 30 year old Dalit Law student, was allegedly raped and found murdered on 28th April 2016 at her home in Perumbavoor of Ernakulam district in Kerela. According to the reports Jisha was tortured with a sharp weapon and her body bore more than 30 stab wounds, including a 13 cm one around her chest that reached  her liver, pointing to the brutal torture. She was also believed to have been brutally kicked in the stomach as her intestines were out. She was suffocated to death and also was beaten with a hard object on the back of her head.

In present day India Dalit women are placed at the absolute bottom of the social hierarchy as they face systemic and structural discrimination threefold: as Dalits, as poor, and as women. The victim’s family faced social alienation because they were poor and Dalit. They were not even allowed to draw water from their neighbours’ wells. The harsh reality of the suppression, struggle and torture Dalit women face every day of their miserable lives are a direct result of the severe exploitation and suppression by the upper classes.

National Council of Churches in India calls upon Churches and all religious institutions to condemn the atrocities against Dalits and to impress upon the government of the State demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits and rendering justice to the Jisha’s family.

Pradip Bansrior Executive Secretary Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns National Council of Churches in India

Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad General Secretary National Council of Churches in India

NCCI thanks God for the life and witness of Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus

Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus, Suffragan Metropolitan of the Kerala-based Mar Thoma Syrian Church, passed away on 27th December 2015 after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Born on August 29, 1938, as Oommen Koruthu, he was ordained as deacon on May 7, 1966; as a priest on July 9 that year, and consecrated as Bishop in May 1980. He was installed as Suffragan Metropolitan on July 3, 2004.

As Bishop, his contribution to the strengthening of the Mission work in all the dioceses and also responding to the spiritual and social needs of each region is evident in the various Projects and Missions started in different Dioceses. Some of the important projects are Asha Bhavan – Pathanapuram, Mochana De-addiction Centre – Kottayam, Thrikkunapuzha Mission, Haripad Centre, Pathanamthitta - Working Women’s Hostel, Santhigiri Ashram – Alwaye, Sinai Centre – New York, Karuthal – Cancer Care and Counselling Centre, Higher Education Loan Project, Navadharshan De-addiction Centre – Kidangannur, Mar Thoma Mission School and Mission Hostel Narasapuram, Ministry for Widow, Widowers and Aged, Sadhu Sadanam – Venmony, Bodhana Project, Bodhadhara Project, VISA-Vivaha Sahayam Project, and Dalit Development Project. His excellent leadership was seen in the success of the Metropolitan’s Navathy Project that collected more than Rs. 16 Crores and provided more than 2050 houses for the homeless in India. It has been recognized as one of the most unique contributions of the Christian Community in India.

Before being installed as Suffragan Metropolitan, he had served as president of the Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam, Mar Thoma Sunday School Samajam, Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelistic Association, Mar Thoma Suvishesha Sevika Sanghom, Mar Thoma Dayara and Sanyasini Samooham, Vaideeka Selection Committee and the Backward People’s Development Committee.

While serving as the Suffragan Metropolitan of the Church, he also held the post of President of the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, Theological Commission of the Mar Thoma Church and Planning Commission of the Church. He had also served as president of the National Missionary Society of India, Bible Society of India, Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC) and the Theological Literature Society of Kerala. In addition to these, he served as secretary of the Nilackal Ecumenical Trust of all Episcopal Churches in Kerala; executive committee member of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and executive/central committee Member of the World Council of Churches (WCC). 

NCCI thanks God for his exemplary life, witness, leadership and contribution to the Church and the Ecumenical movement. May his work continue to inspire in us great commitment and passion for God's Glory and service.

(Sources: http://marthoma.in/bishops/Suffragan%20Metropolitan; http://netindian.in/news/2015/12/27/00036186/bishop-zacharias-mar-theophilus-mar-thoma-church-passes-away)

NCCI delegation meets Vice President of India

A delegation of National Council of Churches in India met Shri. M. Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India and greeted him with Christmas wishes on 22nd December, 2015 at his residence.

He received the leaders warmly and conveyed his wishes to the Christian Community. The Vice President said that 'more than tolerance, what is important in our country is accepting each other as they are'. He also shared the concerns about the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims situation in the community. He appreciated the work of the Church towards the poor and marginalized.

The delegation consisted of Bishop Subodh C. Mondal, Methodist Bishop, President, NWICC, Bishop Collin. C. Theodore, Secretary, NWICC, Bishop Issac Osthatheos, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Mr. Alwan Masih, Church of North India Synod, Dr. Sushant Agarwal, CASA, Mr. R.P. Mani Kumar, YMCAs, Fr. Savarimuthu, Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi and Mr. Samuel Jayakumar, NCCI. 

Samuel Jayakumar,
Executive Secretary,
Commission on Policy, Governance and Public Witness

NCCI.

NCCI Christmas celebration in Delhi

The celebration of ‘Christmas joy through carols’ was arranged by National Council of Churches in India and North West India Council of Churches (NWICC) on 5th December 2015 at Free Church (CNI), Sansad Marg . Mr. Justice Vikramajit Sen, Supreme Court of India, was the Chief Guest of the event. He emphasized that as a Christian Community we should contribute to Nation Building. 

The service started with a prayer by Rev. Suresh Kumar, Presbyter-in–Charge, Free Church, followed by the welcome address by Bishop Collin C. Theodore, Secretary NWICC. The felicitation was done by Bishop Subodh C. Mondal, the President of NWICC. The gathering was delighted by carols and scripture reading. Around 10 choirs from different churches (Protestant, Catholic, orthodox and Northeast) sang carols in different languages.

The vote of thanks was given by Mr. Samuel Jayakumar, Executive Secretary, NCCI. The programme ended with the blessing pronounced by Rt. Rev. Warris K. Masih. 

The Church leaders present in the celebration were H.G Dr. Youhanan Mar Demetrious, Rt. Rev. Warris K Masih (Moderator’s Commissary, CNI Delhi Diocese), Fr. Joseph Chinnayan (Catholic Bishops Conference of India) Ms. Mary George ( President, Lott Carey Baptist Mission in India), representatives from The Salvation Army, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Bible Society of India, National Council of YMCAs and YWCA- Delhi, Bishop Simon John, Believers Church and Mr. Oscar Fernandez, Member of Parliament who also participated the programme.

Samuel Jayakumar Executive Secretary, CoP, NCCI

Bishop Collin C. Theodore Secretary, NWICC

Chennai situation: Updates from Arcot Lutheran Church

This is an e-mail received by the office of the General Secretary of National Council of Churches in India from Arcot Lutheran Church (ALC) updating us of the situation in Chennai and the continuing need for support in relief and rehabilitation efforts undertaken by NCCI's constitutional members.

Greetings to you from the Arcot Lutheran church.

Thanks for your kind mail dated Dec 8, 2015 and we are very happily noted the contents with a deep sense of thankfulness.

We take this opportunity to express our deep sense of gratitude for taking time to inform all the NCCI member churches about the devastation happened in Tamilnadu especially in the Arcot Lutheran Church areas of three districts namely Cuddalore, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai.

As soon as this sorrow and painful incident occurred in our area, the CASA, Chennai came forward and arranged for feeding programmes in five centers. Likewise the UELCI also sent 940 sets of relief materials to the flood affected people in our church. Many of our Mission Partners have also promised to send their help for this flood relief programme.   The Dioceses of Church of South India in Madurai and Coimbatore instantly brought many lorry loads of relief materials to the affected people.   Today we received one container full of relief materials from two churches in the Karnataka Central Diocese.  Till date we were able to reach out nearly 3000 families with relief materials; but the damage by the rain and flood are heavy and the need is immensely great.  There are 7000 to 8000 families are still in need of such help and support from our church and every day we receive requests from many of our Pastors in the rural areas.

As such  we the ALC take this opportunity once again  to thank you for your kind support and solidarity in this mission and for making an appeal to all the member churches to kindly consider  extending their helping hand in this relief mission. For any help and every help that we could get will help us to reach out to the affected victims and help them in their time of great sorrow, suffering, pain and need.

Your kind circular to all the member churches in this crucial time shows your solidarity with us in doing this relief operation. And we are thankful to you in all sincerity.

With prayers and kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

Rt. Rev. Raja Socrates. G

Bishop-President, ALC

Relief and Rehabilitation work in Chennai by Church of South India (CSI)

This is an email received from Rev. Dr. D. R. Sadananda, General Secretary of Church of South India (CSI) updating us about the calamitous situation in Chennai and the response of CSI, through its Diaconal Ministry CSI-SEVA that has been coordinating with the Dioceses in carrying out relief operations in flood affected areas. We solicit your prayers and support for the Chennai situation.

Relief work continues by the Church of South India Synod
with the help of the dioceses and facilitated by the CSI- SEVA and the Madras Diocese. 

Dear Dr. Roger Gaikwad,

Greetings from the CSI Synod Secretariat!

Thank you very much for your email expressing NCCI's solidarity with those affected by the Chennai floods. You aware that Chennai and different parts of Tamilnadu are still reeling under flooding caused by breached tanks and release of water from tanks and dams. This is considered to be due to effects of climate change and underlines our immediate and urgent commitment to climate justice.

The situation is unprecedented and has caught the population and administration unaware. But for a responsive neighbourhood that rose up to the occasion, the distress would have been many folds more. Social media was used as a great force multiplier in the process. The local churches have responded immediately. The Church and School/ Institution premises in many places have accommodated people. Local congregations in the affected and neighbouring areas have been distributing food packets, blankets and drinking water.

Thank you for your readiness to stand in solidarity with the people who have suffered a great loss because of the floods in Chennai. Thank you for the prayers, for the words of encouragement and comfort. The CSI-SEVA (Diaconal Ministry) has been co-ordinating with our Dioceses and is carrying out the need assessment in the flood affected areas.

You may kindly visit our web page, www.csisynod.com for daily updates. The CSI Face Book page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/csisynodcommunication/?ref=bookmarks also contains details of our interventions. We will keep you informed on the developments and the details of the relief work through CSI SEVA. 

In the next phase of resettling the victims in their homes when the water goes down, dry ration, non-food items, clothing and hygiene kits will be required. An estimated minimum of one million people are affected. The need is enormous. The community has great expectations from the local church. The local church has already stretched beyond its limits in responding immediately.

We solicit your prayers and support in helping the worst affected poor families to weave back their lives together in dignity.

Warm regards

Yours sincerely

Rathnakara Sadananda

Rev. Dr. D. R. Sadananda
General Secretary-CSI & Hon. Secretary CSI TA

NCCI Celebrating Disability Advocacy Sunday

Disability Advocacy Sunday Theme: Inclusive and Accessible Church

Disability Advocacy Sunday (DAS) is observed on a Sunday before Advent Sunday every year since 2011.

DAS…

• is both celebration and challenge. 
• is to celebrate lives and witness of the Persons with Disability (PWDs) amongst us. 
• aims to facilitate the Churches to open their doors to become inclusive, accessible and hospitable to the PWDs to fully participate in the very Life, Mission and Ministers of the Churches. 
• is an opportunity to raise awareness and to find solutions to the physical, architectural, communication and attitude to those with PWDs. 
• is paves ways to the PWDs to participate and lead the worship and liturgies and read scriptures and even ministering the Words of God. 
• is giving a chance for the Churches to review their mission agenda to address the Disability issue differently, creatively and relevantly. 

November 6, 2014 is a bench mark year in the faith journey of the NCCI - Indian Ecumenical Disability Accompaniment (IDEA).

Challenge:
No society and Church could declare that, there are no PWDs in us and among us! If any Church is found without a PWD, the DAS is a good time to examine why that is the Church open and actively seeking to make itself to open to all?

On-line petition to Shri Narendra Modi for passing EDPAL Bill in the Parliament

NCCI promotes justice and equality initiatives, and envisions a society that is free from discrimination and intolerance. NCCI supports the current initiative in the form of an online petition from its constituent member, The Leprosy Mission,  for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy. The following information has been received from The Leprosy Mission, India.

 As many of you know, recently the Law Commission of India submitted its report No: 256 to the Government of India on steps to be taken to end discrimination against people affected by leprosy, and empower them to be included in the development process. The Law Commission also submitted a draft Bill, titled ‘Eliminating Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy’ (EDPAL) Bill, 2015, for repealing all the 14 laws discriminating people affected by leprosy.

 The Parliament of India needs to act on the recommendations of the Law Commission and pass EDPAL Bill and also, bring new legislation for rehabilitation of people affected by leprosy. For this, the Government of India has to start the parliamentary process.

 Sixteen national and international organisations working in the field of leprosy have come together as a collective, under the banner, ‘United4Change’, and petitioned the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, to get EDPAL Bill passed in the Parliament and bring new legislation for rehabilitation of people affected by leprosy.

NCCI appreciates the relief effort by the Orthodox Church in India for Nepal

The National Council of Churches in India is pleased to learn about the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church's relief effort to Nepal. 

According to a spokesperson of the Church, this will be a comprehensive reconstruction project in the earthquake-hit country. Under the project, 50 houses in the village will be reconstructed in addition to establishing a drinking water supply scheme. As per the sanction accorded by the Government of Nepal, the Church will also rebuild the village school which was destroyed in the earthquake.

According to P.C. Elias, spokesperson, the Church will adopt Patdar village falling under the Jiri municipal area in Dolakha district. The Mission Board of the Church, Indian Christian Orthodox Network (ICON), a network of NRI members of the Church, and Lutheran World Federation will join hands in the endeavour.

Asked about the agitation going on in the Himalayan nation for reconversion to a Hindu nation, Mr. Elias said the Church was not engaged in conversion activities in any of the places where it was doing social work. The project will be implemented fully identifying with the national ethos of Nepal, he said.

Source: The Hindu

PETITION TO THE PRIME MINISTER. From The Leprosy Mission Trust India

The Leprosy Mission Trust India has started an online petition to Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi asking him to take concrete steps to end discrimination against people affected by leprosy and take immediate action on Report 256 of the Law Commission of India.

This petition has already caught people’s imagination. Many have already signed the petition. Every day, more and more people sign to show their solidarity with people affected by leprosy!

The Leprosy Mission Trust India is aiming at getting 50,000 people to sign the petition. They need many more signatures to achieve this. The petition can be signed at the link given below: 

https://www.change.org/p/prime-minister-of-india-shri-narendra-modi-take-concrete-steps-to-end-discrimination-against-people-affected-by-leprosy-take-immediate-action-on-report-256-of-the-law-commission-of-india

Please share the above link on your Facebook timeline (if you have one) and forward the link to your colleagues, friends and family and request them to sign!

People affected by leprosy need our support to get EDPAL Bill passed in the Parliament and for the government to bring new legislation for their rehabilitation and development.Together, we can bring change in the lives of people affected by leprosy.

People affected by leprosy will be thankful to you for signing the petition which has the power to bring healing, inclusion and dignity in their lives.

The appeal of The Leprosy Mission Trust is thus recommended by NCCI (with its emphasis on compassion, healing, justice, inclusivity, dignity of life, and peace for all) for your strong support

Tamilnadu Christian Council Annual Report 2014-2015

Tamil Nadu Christian Council

Report of the Secretary and Director for the period from 01-04-2014 to 31-03-2015

click here for download report

Congratulations to Mr. Inbaraj Jeyakumar on being elected the 17th General Secretary of Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI)

Mr. Inbaraj Jeyakumar, General Secretary, SCMI
(Photo courtesy: SCMI website)

The 27th General Committee of the Student Christian Movement of India held at Goa from 28-30 May 2015, unanimously elected Mr. Inbaraj Jeyakumar as the 17th General Secretary of SCM India (SCMI) for a term of four years.

The SCMI Executive Committee proposed the name of Mr. Inbaraj Jeyakumar which was unanimously received by the General Committee. The chairperson of SCMI , Bishop Dr. Geevarghese Mor Coorilos stated that Mr. Inbaraj has been unanimously selected by the search committee members by considering his long term experiences with the SCM India and his commitment to make this movement a vibrant one.

Mr. Inbaraj Jeyakumar, a member of Church of South India Madurai Diocese, started his journey with SCMI when he was a student in the American College and then in the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary (TTS) Madurai. Soon after completing his theological studies from TTS, Inba joined SCMI as the Programme Secretary for South Tamilnadu region. He continued his tenure for four years. SCMI deputed him as an International Social Justice intern at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church in New York for two years, after which  he joined the National office of SCMI at Bangalore, thereby strengthening SCMI in movement building. As a person coming from the Dalit Community, he has been a source of great inspiration and strength to Dalit and Tribal Students, especially through the Fellowship Programme.

(Source: SCMI website/blog - https://communicationscmi.wordpress.com/2015/06/01/mr-inbaraj-jeyakumar-elected-the-17th-general-secretary-of-scm-india/)

National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) congratulates Mr. Inbaraj Jeyakumar and wishes him the very best in his new role as General Secretary of SCMI. As a constituent member of NCCI, the SCMI has been one of the most active members leading the student community spiritedly, and having in their ministry very practical expressions of ecumenical values. With Mr. Inbaraj Jeyakumar's dedication to the cause, under his leadership we look forward to many great accomplishments in the direction of edification and empowerment of communities, especially students.

- NCCI Communications.

Nepal earthquake situation needs your prayers and help

The Earthquake situation in Nepal and parts of India has claimed more than 3700 lives at the latest count, and several thousands of casualties are continuing to be dealt with. The figures could rise higher depending on the condition of vulnerable mountain villages that rescue workers are still struggling to reach two days after the disaster. The aftershocks occurring after the earthquake, of which there have been more than 20, continue to inflict damage on buildings already weakened by previous activity and endanger the lives of many more.

The quake, worst in last 81 years, is proving to be a huge challenge to rescue and relief operations. However, help has come from all sides and emergency operations are underway. Even Christian organizations like Lutheran World Relief, Christian Aid, Dan Church Aid, and Mennonite Central Committee are actively engaged in relief work

This calamity brings us closer to each other as cohabitants of God’s earth, undivided by borders, religions and languages. Let us pray for and support the relief and rehabilitation efforts being made. Let us uphold in prayers our sisters and brothers affected by the earthquake, asking God, the Caring One, to bless us with Divine Peace, Comfort and Hope amidst the humanly disconsolate state of affairs we are witnessing and experiencing.

It is at such times that we can give substance to the values of humanity and love that we profess and hold dear.

NCCI

Appeal for upholding secular and pluralistic credentials of India. PCI Memorandum

On Wednesday April 22, 2015 a group of Church Leaders (Presbyterian Church of India, Catholics & a few others) met Mr. Amit Shah, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President, and submitted their respective memoranda.

The PCI memorandum contained three points, viz. (1) for PM Modi to state in Parliament what he stated at the Syro-Malabar Church meeting; (2) for the Government not to enact a law banning religious conversion; (3) for not bringing a law to ban cow slaughter.

Please see below the Presbyterian Church of India (PCI) memorandum submitted to Mr. Amit Shah, National President of Bharatiya Janata Party.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF INDIA

SHILLONG ::: MEGHALAYA

22 April, 2015.

Mr. Amit Shah,
National President,
Bharatiya Janata Party,
Camp: Shillong.

Subject: Request for upholding secular and pluralistic credentials of India.

Sir,

Welcome to North East India! Welcome to Shillong!

First of all, thank you for this opportunity to meet you on your maiden visit to the North East and to Shillong, the Scotland of the East which is also the national headquarters of the Presbyterian Church of India which population is 1.4 million and established 174 years ago with the first congregation being Nongsawlia Presbyterian Church at Sohra (Cherrapunjee), the famed tourist destination of Meghalaya with its cascading waterfalls, world renowned caves and from where one can have a panoramic view of the plains of Bangladesh.

Press Release from North-West India Council of Churches (NWICC)

PRESS RELEASE

The Council of the North West India Council of Churches (NWICC) met on 15th April, 2015 at  Mar Thoma Centre in Delhi.  The main agenda of the meeting was revitalizing the North West India Council of Churches (NWICC) and its activities. Bishops, Head of Churches, Official Representatives of Church bodies, Organizations of NWICC  gathered in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and together we reflected on how to become effective witnesses of God’s grace and love in our situation and to serve humanity (as servants of God). 

• We endorse that all humans are created in the Image of God and Churches and all their agencies are called to be responsible to work with specific mandate for the betterment of humanity as well as God’s creations.

NCCI Centenary Celebration 2014 - Glimpses

National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) celebrated its centenary in 2014 in a series of regional programs all over India. This video is a a compilation of the highlights / glimpses of the year-long celebration.

Check out the video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zhg3fS32zo

Call to uphold and safeguard the religious freedom and fundamental rights of all Indian citizens: Press note from KJPSS

Please see here the press note from Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod Sepngi (KJPSS), a constituent of the Presbyterian Church of India, urging the governments to uphold and safeguard the religious freedom and fundamental rights of all Indian citizens.

PRESS STATEMENT

By The

Khasi Jaiñtia Presbyterian Synod Sepngi

Shillong, Meghalaya.

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Khasi  Jaiñtia  Presbyterian  Synod  Sepngi, one of the constituents of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of India with its headquarter in Shillong, Meghalaya, having a membership of more than 340000,  which  met  in  Shillong,  Meghalaya  on  Thursday,  05^th   February,  2015  is seized of the  recent  developments  concerning  forced  conversion,  re-conversion  and  proposed  ban  on  conversion.  In the light of such developments and after a thorough discussion, it was decided to issue a Press Statement as follows:

That  the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod Sepngi expresses  its  appreciation  to  the  HRD  Ministry  for  withdrawing  its advisory  to  States  and  directives  to  the  Navo  Vidyalayas  on  opening  schools  on  25^th December, 2014  to  observe  “Good  Governance  Day”  as  per  guidelines  given.

Vandalism and attacks on Churches in India condemned - Press note from Church of South India

Please see here the press note from Church of South India (CSI) condemning the attacks on Churches in India and demanding action.

PRESS RELEASE

TO CONDEMN THE ATTACKS AND VANDALISM ON CHURCHES IN NEW DELHI BY THE CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA

Members Present:

1. The Most Rev. Dr. G. Dyvasirvadam , Moderator, Church of South India
2. The Rt. Rev. Thomas K. Oommen, Deputy Moderator
3. Rev. Dr. D.R. Sadananda, General Secretary
4. Adv. C. Robert Bruce, Honorary Treasurer
5. The Rt. Rev. Dr. G. Devakadasham,  Former Moderator, Church of South India &      Bishop in CSI Kanyakumari Diocese
6. Rev. T. Devaputhiran, Administrative Secretary, CSI Madras Diocese
7. Mr. Arthur Sadhanandham, Executive Committee Member, Church of South India
8. Dr. Vimal Sukumar, CSI Medak Diocese

The recent vandalism and attacks on five Churches in different directions of the city of New Delhi has evoked a strong sense of insecurity and anguish among the Christian community in India.  This is an alarming atmosphere apparently linked to the Ghar Wapsy Programme organized by some religious fanatics.  There is a strong feeling that the Central Government is not doing enough to reassure the minority communities in the country in spite of the continued orchestrated and systematic attack and vandalism on Churches which included miscreants, breaking open the Churches and desecrating hol y objects and also setting a church on fire.

CNI New Officers

The Church of North India elects its new Office 

Moderator - Bishop P.K. Samantaroy 

Deputy Moderator - Bishop P.C. Singh

General Secretary - Mr. Alwan Masih

Hon. Treasurer - Mr. Prem Masih

Apology: We apologize for the previous communication in connection with news from Church of North India (CNI) as it was inadvertently published in its draft state.  We deeply regret the inconvenience this may have caused.

- NCCI Communications

CASA's Emergency Response to the devastating floods and landslides in Jammu & Kashmir (Updates 1 - 4).

After assessing the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday declared the situation a "national‐level disaster" and announced a special assistance of INR 1,000 crore (US$ 170, 940, 171) for the flood‐hit state besides INR 2 00000 (US $ 3419) compensation from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for the kin of the dead and INR 50,000 (US $ 855) for those seriously injured.

CASA has released INR 21, 75, 500 (US$37,188) towards organizing distribution of dry ration kit and NFIs to 1170 families in Kulgam and Sri Nagar districts in Kashmir. CASA along with its local partner organizations and Mountain Forum Himalayas have been one of the first respondents to the disaster in Kashmir.