Q: How is the situation in UP where you live? In the European Union as else-where, each country has be-come more self-reliant: Germans go to Germany, Italians go to Italy, Indians go to India, and Keralites go to Kerala. That kind of a returning back home has become very strong. It also gives fillip to regionalism and fundamentalism, won’t it?

A: In Gorakhpur, the lockdown is very strictly followed, but now-a-days a lot many migrant labourers have returned from other states. They are coming by trains and buses. The Chief Minister has promised to bring them back from all over India. He is also promising many reforms that could attract industries here. We have made space available in our own schools for Corona affected migrants. We are also providing food, although we are a small minority of 3000 Catholics. We are distributing 400 to 500 packets of food and tea daily to the people at the railway station. We have also handed over 12,000 stitched masks to government agencies. Since schools are closed, we are giving online classes to the children. We face difficulty for paying our teachers. I fear that some political parties or political ideologies may exploit the present situation. Those who are in difficulty can be easily influenced. People now have the feeling that they are safe only at home. The younger generation that has migrated to the South are earning well and living a good life. They are also tax payers. The tax they pay is needed to pay pension and to finance other welfare schemes. When that source dries up, some kind of financial and social crisis can result. Although we are not having any conversion here, we can still try and work for building up a good society. I agree with the Holy Father that the Church is passing through very difficult times, but that is unavoidable to attain salvation.

Bp Mar Thomas Thuruthimattam CST
Gorakhpur