Church steps in where the system struggles, offering space, dignity, and hope to a government office in need
Kannur: In a striking gesture of public service rooted in compassion, the Diocese of Kannur has donated 10 cents of land to the Pattuvam Village Office, bringing long-awaited relief to an institution that has long struggled to function from a crumbling, congested space.
For years, the Pattuvam Village Office operated out of an aging structure confined to just 1.5 cents of land a space so narrow that even storing official records became a challenge. Officers jostled for workspace, and the public had to wait in crowded, inadequate surroundings. The desperate need for a better location seemed impossible until a conversation turned into a commitment.
It was former Village Officer C. Reeja who first raised the alarm. With no suitable government land available, she reached out to the Diocese of Kannur for help. Her appeal found a strong ally in former RDO E.P. Mercy, who formally presented the matter to Bishop Dr. Alex Vadakkumthala. Though the Bishop was away at the time, the diocesan leadership swiftly stepped in.
Without waiting for ceremonial delays, the 10 cents of prime land was registered in the name of the Governor of Kerala to legally expedite the handover. The handover ceremony, held at the Kannur Bishop House, was both solemn and symbolic.
Presiding over the event, Auxiliary Bishop Dr. Dennis Kuruppassery handed over the official deed to Kannur ADM Kala Bhaskar. “Even though this land holds value in the commercial sense, it holds greater value in its purpose serving the people. The Church, as always, continues its mission of standing with the public in their everyday struggles,” Bishop Kuruppassery said.
The event was presided over by Vicar General Monsignor Clarence Paliath, and attended by key figures including Tehsildar P. Sajeevan, Fr. George Painadath (Diocesan Procurator), Fr. Vipin William, Fr. Sudeep Mundakkal, Fr. Antony Kurishingal, Pattuvam Village Assistant P.V. Vinod Kumar, and others who had quietly worked behind the scenes to make the donation possible.
What began as an administrative need has now become a story of solidarity. This gift from the Church not only clears the way for a more efficient village office, but also reaffirms that true governance is a partnership between institutions sacred and secular when they both choose to serve the people first.