Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis Catholicos Bava, Chairman of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC), emphasized that a person truly embodies the essence of God when they unite those who have lost everything in natural disasters. His comments came during the inauguration of a new housing project by the Mananthavady Diocese, aimed at helping families displaced by the devastating Mundakai Chooralmala landslide. The first house in the rehabilitation initiative was marked by the laying of its foundation stone in Thommattuchal.
The ceremony, chaired by Mar Jose Porunnedam, President of the Mananthavady Diocese, included a presentation by Fr. Jacob Mavungal, Secretary of KCBC’s Justice for Peace and Development Commission, who provided details about the rehabilitation efforts. Bishop Joseph Mar Thomas of the Bathery Diocese offered a blessing for the project during the event.
Key local figures such as MLAs I.C. Balakrishnan, Adv. T. Siddique, and Ambalavayal Grama Panchayat President Mrs. Afsath, along with Meppadi Panchayat President Mr. Babu, and Wayanad Social Service Society Director Fr. Jinoj Palathadathil, also attended the event. Other attendees included Fr. Jose Kocharakkal, the diocesan procurator, Sebastian Palamparambil, Vice Chairman of the Diocesan Rehabilitation Committee, and PRO Salu Abraham Mecheril.
In addition to local leaders, representatives from the Ambalavayal and Meppadi Panchayats, a large group of priests and monks from the dioceses of Mananthavady, Bathery, and Kozhikode, along with disaster-affected families, gathered for the function.
The first house will be built on land purchased by the Mananthavady Diocese in Thommattuchal, specifically designated for the rehabilitation of those affected by the landslide. KCBC is set to construct approximately 100 homes across Wayanad and Vilangad. During his address, the Bishop of Mananthavady shared that plans are already in motion for additional houses, further demonstrating KCBC's commitment to providing much-needed support to the disaster survivors.