Alappuzha: Church lambs to brighten lives of flood victims

Alappuzha: A church in Haripad is bringing relief to the flood and landslide victims of Alappuzha, Wayanad and Malappuram districts in the form of lambs.

The St. Mary's Orthodox Church had launched the project Ammakkoru Kunjaad (A lamb for the mother) post- 2018 floods to distribute lambs to the beneficiaries in and around Haripad.

The church managing committee collected 100 lambs from the parishioners of 14 parishes under the Mavelikara diocese and handed them over to the poor victims in and around Haripad on the condition of returning one of its progeny a year after. Anil K. John, managing committee secretary, said they wanted to continue the project every year as part of the church feast.

Female lambs aged at least six months and worth Rs 4,200 in the market were distributed.  Ten families, who were given lambs last year, returned one lamb each this year. A sum of `6 lakh was raised from the parishioners and the church festival budget, he said. The dioceses in Wayanad and Malappu-ram will provide over 50 lambs to the victims this time. The lamb represents suffering as well as triumph in Christian faith. It is typically a sacrificial animal, but also symbolises gentleness, innocence, purity, sweetness, forgiveness and meekness, he said.

“Our church stands in an economically-backward area and the people were badly affected by the floods last year. The project was aimed at helping them,” John said.