Township for Knanite Catholics at Pala

KOTTAYAM: A township named ‘Ezra Knanaya city’  will be established exclusively for  the Knanaya Catholic community on a four-acre site at Pala.  “The community members wished for such a place and   large numbers  of them  residing overseas have  supported the idea  as they want to live together when they return after working overseas for many years. Also, most of them are related," said Mr Sachin Pattumakkil, a director  of the project.  

According to  Mr Sachin,  the township will offer  24-hour  nursing care,  security, ambulance facility,    presence of priests   and  medical checkup by visiting doctors.   It   will also contain a canteen, ayurvedic centre, beauty parlour  and club house, he said. The community members said that the idea was  not to create  divisions in society. “We are not compelling anyone to join the place. It is left to  the individual's choice,”  said Prof Babu Poozhikunnel, who is associated with the project. However, it may draw criticism as it is similar to  ‘The vedic village- Shankar agraharam’-- a Brahmin-only housing project that was set up on the outskirts of Bengaluru in 2013.