Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has joined a newly launched interfaith body aimed at addressing poverty, environmental degradation, and social inequality through coordinated faith-based action.
In a landmark gathering held on May 29 at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, the CBCI—through its Office for Interreligious Dialogue and social action arm Caritas India—joined as a core member of the National Multi-Faith Action Coordination Committee (MFACC).
The initiative is spearheaded by the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA) and UNICEF.
Fr. Dr Anthoniraj Thumma, national secretary of the CBCI Office for Interreligious Dialogue, and Navneet Yadav, Caritas India’s lead on humanitarian action and disaster risk reduction, represented the Catholic Church in India at the inaugural meeting.
Both pledged the Church’s commitment to the newly formed committee and voiced support for its partners.
The meeting brought together leaders from seven religious traditions and representatives of faith-based organizations from across the country, under the guidance of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji. Former Indian president Shri Ram Nath Kovind also attended what organizers described as a historic first.
The MFACC aims to serve as a national platform for knowledge exchange and joint planning among religious groups, with the goal of addressing what Pope Francis has called “the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth.”
The committee’s priorities include public health and nutrition, water and sanitation, child protection, education, disaster risk reduction, and climate action.
The body is expected to meet quarterly, with its next gathering scheduled in Delhi to develop a formal action plan.
