Kannur: What can you do with one rupee? Fr Roy Neduthanam, the resident manager of Holy Mount Rehabilitation Centre for the Mentally Challenged in Kannur, can give you an answer which will amaze you. Kannur Diocese started a project ‘Karunya Gramam’ (Mercy Village) which would encompasses a mental rehabilitation centre, orphanage, destitute centre etc in the 12 acre compound of the Centre with contributions of Rs one a day from believers and stakeholders of the institutions under the diocese. Within one year, the project got Rs 1 crore as donations and the work started.
The diocese is planning to complete the project in five-years time at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore. The project was started in December last year by the diocese as part of the ‘Holy Year of Mercy’ observed by the Catholic Church globally. “There are a lot of people who required help from society to regain their life back. The Year of Mercy is an effort to make the society realize they have an obligation to such people,” he said.
“We started the campaign among the believers and institutions so that there should be a base before going to the general public with the message of contribution. We told them to save a rupee each day and contribute for this noble cause and the response was very positive,” he added. Once completed, the village is also expected to fill the lack of a mental health centre in Kannur and Kasargod districts. The project is led by the Kannur Bishop Dr Alex Vadakkumthala under Vimala Hridaya Medical and Charitable Trust.
