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radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Religious leaders say they were forced to dip into their own pockets to supplement a $10 million tranche given to them by the government to help families burdened by the job loss caused by the COVID-19 lockdown.
So far more than 20 denominations and Faith-Based Organisations have received the first tranche of $10 million. Two more tranches for the same amount are expected to be given for the months of June and July.
However, general secretary of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Vijai Maharaj said the SDMS received only $533,000 from the government even though it had 153 temples, 43 primary schools, 13 Early Childhood Care Centres and five secondary schools under its charge.
Maharaj said the $533,000 was a pittance but despite this, they utilised it well in their hamper distribution.
Saying that the SDMS has always done social work, Maharaj said the organisation was able to raise funds from corporate sponsors to distribute over 6,000 hampers last month. The monies supplied by the government catered for 2,665 hampers.
Each hamper cost $200 and Maharaj said even though they have already used up all of the government allocation, they were still continuing the distribution of food aid to hundreds of families.
He noted that the distribution of grants by the government was not done in an equitably.
“We distributed hampers throughout the country at our, temples and schools. It was not restricted to the Hindu community. We assisted all children whose names are on the school feeding programme. We submitted bills on 17 May to the government but so far we have not received any further funds,” Maharaj said.
He noted that while the SDMS received half a million dollars, other groups with far less schools received large amounts.
“For example SWAHA received $200,000 even though it has one college and half a dozen temples. There is a pundit who has one temple who received $100,000,” he said.
Meanwhile, moderator of the Presbyterian Church Rev Joy Abdul-Mohan said the PCTT utilized the Food Relief grant to purchase groceries and food hampers to those who suffered a loss of income during the COVID lockdown.
“This is reflected in agreement with government. We had a request for 1,300 hampers and we prepared 1,156 with the grant. We used own funds to meet shortfall,” she added.
Abdul-Mogan said the PCTT has been preparing hampers and doing social outreach works through the Synod and the Board because of its social responsibility to nationals and non nationals.
“The PCTT has not asked for additional funding. We are just grateful for what we have received,” she said.
Meanwhile the Vicar for Communication at the Roman Catholic Church and the parish priest for the St Dominic’s RC Church in Penal, Father Robert Christo said the Roman Catholic Church has been distributing in excess of 12,000 hampers per fortnight within recent times. Each hamper cost $175.
“We have an ongoing bulk of migrants whom we assist in addition to our parishioners. We had a hotline set up so people can get assistance. We had to supplement the amount given to us by the government because of the magnitude of the migrant ministry,” Christo said.
He added that the pandemic caused distress to a lot of people.
“We have been distributing hampers long before COVID and it was never enough,” he said.
Christy explained that the Roman Catholic Church started distributing 5,000 hampers every two weeks but as demand increased it moved to 7,000 hampers fortnightly and then 12,000 hampers forthnightly.
He could not say how much money was given to the Church but noted that the hamper drive was decentralized at the parish level. He noted that families were not just given good aid but attempts were made to offer life skills training to allow for a positive integration within the society.
Christy also said the Church was a stickler for accountability and all bills were submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister for the month of May.