Bengaluru Archbishop appeals priests to hearken more to the poor
Bengaluru, Dec 19: Reaffirming the need to hear the voice of the poor and feel their pain, Archbishop Rev. Peter Machado said that “our love for the poor and less privileged and marginalized, and voiceless will bring us to receive the God’s blessings”.
Addressing a gathering of over 200 priests at the annual priests Christmas Fellowship, hosted by him at his house here on Wednesday, he said that no poor should be left out from feeling that they were not loved by God.
“Christmas is always a time to re-focus our attention who are less privileged. People of all religions, with a heart filled with love, will share, care and comfort those who need to feel they are not discounted by the God”, he said.
The Archbishop called for greater concern for those who became homeless and lost because of natural calamities. He contemplated on how people could rehabilitate ‘as much as we can’ to help those in distress, he said.
The Prelate appealed to avoid lavish spending on religious celebrations and saving money for the poor instead. “Jesus Christ was born among the poor and helpless in a stable in Bethlehem which indicated that He chose to identify with the poor”, he said.
Peter Machado, who is the new Archbishop of Bengaluru since May 31, 2018, released the annual report of the activities of the Bangalore Multi-purpose Social Society (BMSSS). BMSSS director Fr. Navin coordinated the activities of the Archdiocese which has already raised over Rs 1 crore for flood victims of Kodagu.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
