Interfaith Communities Affirm ‘Life Giving Agriculture’ is the Way of Life

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National Council of Churches in India

United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India& India Peace Centre

Interfaith Discussion on “Life-giving Agriculture”

26th December 2016, NCCI Campus, Nagpur, India.

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Thirty participants from major faiths including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism and Secular, Dalit and Gender ideologies participated in an Interfaith discussion on ‘Life Giving Agriculture’ (LGA) on the 26th December 2016 at NCCI Campus, commemorating the ‘National Farmers’ Day’.

The grave  agricultural  situation and in particular the incidence of farmer suicides in India were the backdrop of the discussion, which focused on how   faith communities and secular ideologues could contribute towards liberating the ‘agri-culture’ from the ‘agri-business’!

Rev. Christopher Rajkumar of NCCI in his introduction narrated how Monsanta and Bayer are taking over agriculture and converting  it into agribusiness, and also about the issue of GMOs. If, as was claimed , GMOs and Agri-business would bring more profits, why have alarming numbers of Indian farmers taken their lives over the last years in Vidarbha, Telangana, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamilnadu and elsewhere? In fact GM seeds and products are hazardous to health. Even the milk we drink, eggs and meat we eat are stuffed with GMOs and Chemicals since  cows, hens and goats are fed with GM and Chemically modified foods. Further he called the faith communities and civil society and peoples movements to come together for a collective campaign against the GMOs and Agri-business.

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Dalit Liberation Sunday observed across India

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In today’s context where our Dalit brothers and sisters undergo experiences of  dehumanization and denial of basic human rights, violence and  death, the birth of Jesus gives a wake up call to the oppressing communities, to liberate their minds from the ideologies of discrimination, domination, exploitation and oppression.  The member churches of the National Council of Churches in India and Theological Colleges in India observed Dalit Liberation Sunday all across the country on Sunday, the 13th of November 2016 and also on following Sundays. The theme for the Dalit Liberation Sunday (DLS) was ‘Administer Justice Daily! Deliver the Oppressed!’(Jeremiah 21:12).

Observance of DLS-2016 in All Saints Cathedral Church, Nagpur

All Saints Cathedral Nagpur celebrated ‘Thanks Giving Sunday’ on 13th November 2016 and gave an opportunity to Ms. Ngalaton Ningsen- Intern of Commission on Tribals/Adivasis to lead the intercessory prayers giving full freedom to incorporate prayers from the DLS worship order prepared by NCCI.

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Who said Martial Arts and Karate are for Boys only?……. NCCI Accompanies Member Churches in its Pilgrimage to Promote Girls and Women Rights as Human Rights and 16 Days Activism Campaign

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Girls in New Kurvez School learning Self Defense Techniques of Marshal Arts and Karate to break the silence during seminar organized by CNI-SSI to commemorate Human Rights Day and promote 16 Days Activism Campaign to Eliminate Violence on Women and Girls

Engaging in advocacy among churches and women’s fellowship, organizations and church run institutions and enhancing the capacity of church and community leaders  to promote women’s and children’s human rights has been the major focus of All India Council of Christian Women . Every year this advocacy gains its momentum during the UN Campaign of  16 Days Advocacy to Eliminate Violence on Women and Girls from 25th November to 10th December .  It is during this time that AICCW also accompanies  member churches and women’s fellowships in their pilgrimage to end violence on women and children. AICCW  links women’s fellowships and member churches to different ecumenical networking and encourages churches to   share their  work , strategies and stories to build just inclusive communities

AICCW – NCCI accompanied CNI- SSI ( Church of North India Social Service Institute of Nagpur Diocese ) in its ministry to empower children about rights to life and dignity and prevent abuse. A Seminar on Empowering Girls about  Self Defense Skills  and Gender Justice  was organized  in New Kurvez’s High school in  Nagpur to commemorate Human Rights Day and to promote ‘Girls’ and Children’s Rights are Human Rights’. More than 300 children both boys and girls participated in this seminar .

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NCCI journeying with All India Baptist Fellowship to Promote Women’s Ordination

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Young Women Leaders Promoting 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Violence on Women during Baptist Women's Forum in Orissa

Young Women Leaders Promoting 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Violence on Women during Baptist Women’s Forum in Odisha.

All India Baptist Fellowship organized a Women’s Forum from 25th – 27th November 2016 in Chandipur Odisha to discuss about the role of women in Church and strategize to promote women’s ordination. 25 key  women  leaders from 12 Baptist Conventions from Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and North Eastern states attended this Forum .  There were women leaders also in this forum who are ordained. According to Mrs .Katie Longkumer- Development Consultant of Council of Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI) and Rev Narola  Coordinator of this Forum,  “ This is an historic event in All India Baptist  Fellowship in its journey to promote partnership of women in ministry.”

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Dalit Liberation Sunday-2016 observed jointly by the UELCI and the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai

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Dalipresentation1t Liberation Sunday-2016 was observed jointly by the UELCI and the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai on 13th November 2016 under the guidance of Rev. Dr. A. G. Augustine Jeyakumar- Executive Secretary of UELCI & LWF National Committee (I) and the Treasurer of the NCCI. Dalits are the opressed and marginalized people in India whom the churches should acknowledge and express solidarity with in their liberation process. The observance of Dalit liberation Sunday paves the way for churches to be more sensitive to the plights and concerns of Dalits.

On the eve of 13th November, the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College premise was customized to the frame of Dalit worship with the fire post and the Parai (the Dalit Drum) at the centre. The worship order was created incorporating Dalit lives and their thirst  for liberation. Before commencing  the worship, Mr. K. Immanuel Paul Vivekanandh, the Coordinator of Dalits and Adivasi Concerns Desk of UELCI welcomed the gathering and gave an introduction for the need of the Dalit Liberation Sunday and observing it in the present day context. The worship was on the  theme “Administer Justice Daily, Deliver the Oppressed”. The Students walked in procession with the Parai singing  Dalit songs. The Parai drum was beaten to invoke the presence of the God, as  is customary in the worship of the Dalit communities. The worship was led by Mr. K. Immanuel Paul Vivekanandh, and the worship elements were led by the Guru-Sishya fellowship of the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, and Dr.Walo Temjen – Professor of Dept. of History of Christianity.

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NCC India Congratulates Christian Conference of Asia for Initiating ‘Women’s Ecumenical Action Against Violence’ Network

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15134785_10211433743985769_1529893627523849940_n-2-copy(Ms Moumita Biswas sharing about CEDAW during Women Building Peace, Preventing Violence and Transforming Our World’ Consultation  of CCA)

A Consultation on ‘Women Building Peace, Preventing Violence and Transforming Our World’ was organized by Christian Conference of Asia in Chiangmai , Thailand from 17th -20th  November 2016. Thirty-five Women leaders gathered from different parts of Asia and strategized how to involve churches and engage in advocacy to end violence on women and gender based violence.

‘Women’s Ecumenical Action Against Violence (WEAAV) is a programmatic thrust of CCA and a network was formed  to promote advocacy against violence on women in sub-regions and in  Asian Churches . Various  interactive sessions of the consultation led by experts covered a wide range of topics such as ‘Women Building Peace, Preventing Violence and Transforming Our World’, ‘Feminization of Labour Migration and Violence Against Women’, ‘Sustainable Development Goals in Achieving Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women’, and ‘Ecumenical Women’s Action and Strategies for Advocacy and Networks’.

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NCCI – VCLC Agrarian Crisis Consultation held

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An AGRARIAN CRISIS CONSULTATION was organized by Vidarbha Centre for Labour Concerns (VCLC), a project of National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) in Butibori on November 19 – 20, 2016. There were 30 people participating in the consultation. Prof. Dr. Yugal Rayalu presented a helpful analysis of the agricultural situation. Small group discussions catalyzed the issues, and the participants planned a draft to be submitted to the Government of Maharashtra Ministry of Agriculture during the winter assembly.

The issue of Farmers cooperative movement has gathered momentum after the NCCI – VCLC consultation.

Here are some pictures –

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Rajesh Jadhav
Coordinator
Vidarbha Centre for Labour Concerns
National Council of Churches in India.

 

CBCI Bishop visits NCCI Delhi office

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The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) Secretary General Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas visited NCCI Delhi Office on 16th November 2016. It was a great honour for us to welcome him.

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Protest against New Education Policy in Delhi

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The Joint Action Committee against the Proposed Anti-People Education Policy (JACAAPEP) organised a mass movement on 17th November 2016 advocating that education should address the real needs of the people. The protest rally began with a march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi at 11 am. It  culminated in a protest meeting at Parliament Street  senior leaders of all Opposition political parties, Youth & Student Unions, Civil Society, Minority Institutions, Women’s Groups, Trade Unions, Teachers & Human Rights activists addressed the gathering.

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Speakers including Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Mr. Manish Sisodia, RJD Spokesperson Mr. Manoj K Jha, MP of Rajya Sabha Ms. Kanimozhi, General Secretary AICC Mr. Digvijaya Singh, General Secretary CPI-M Mr. Sitaram Yechury, CNI General Secretary Mr. Alwan Masih, Archbishop of Delhi Most Rev. Anil Couto, North West India Council of Churches Secretary Bishop Collin C. Theodore, Senior Journalist Mr. John Dayal, Social Activist Ms. Shabnam Hashmi and many others expressed support and solidarity for the protest.

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NCCI Vice-President Ms. Aleyamma Thomas along with representatives from Church of South India (CSI) also participated in this protest meeting.

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

DIGITAL REPORTING TOOL FOR DALIT EMPOWERMENT Launched.

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Mainstream media is often found to under-represent the interests of people in the margins of society such as the dalits in India who are outcaste. In this context, the lack of channels and inability to communicate their own concerns and bring to the fore their experiences of discrimination, has led to ignorance, unaddressed issues of inequality, inaccessibility to basic services, neglect, denial of rights and exclusion from the processes of decision-making and policy-making. The emerging consciousness about importance of Information and Communications Technology in the exploration of alternative media to create communication spaces can lead to the creation of pathways to digital frontiers that provide solutions towards affirmation of communication rights and implementation of inclusion concepts.

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