New Delhi: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday sanctioned Rs 78.76 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) to support 13 institutions run by the Missionaries of Charity in the state, a statement by his office said.

The development comes after the application by the charitable institution, which was set up by Mother Teresa, to renew its registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) was refused on December 25 for not meeting eligibility conditions as some “adverse inputs” were received.

MOC further advised its units not to operate bank accounts till the FCRA issue was resolved.

Patnaik has also asked district collectors to remain in touch with the institutions run by the Missionaries of Charity and added that the government will fund them from the CMRF.

Based on the requests of collectors, the chief minister has sanctioned assistance for 13 institutions run by the Missionaries of Charity spread over eight districts. More than 900 inmates in various leprosy homes and orphanages in the state will benefit from this decision, the CMO statement said.

On December 30 Patnaik had directed all the collectors to ensure that no inmate of the institutions run by the Missionaries of Charity suffers, especially from food security and health-related issues.

The Sisters of MoC arrived in Odisha in 1974. Since then, they have opened 18 homes: nine for the sick, the abandoned and the elderly; six facilities for children; and three centres for the treatment of leprosy-afflicted and those suffering from mental illness. There are 87 sisters who look after these institutions.

In Odisha, Christians form the largest minority group, with a population of 11.6 lakh, as per the last Census. They constitute 2.7 per cent of the state’s population.
-with inputs from PTI,TW