Latin Archdiocese plans helpline for expats

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Church is chipping in to help Keralites working abroad who face exploitation. The Latin Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram will soon roll out a helpline number to assist expatriate members which can also be used by NRKs in general."Malayalees abroad face numerous problems today, especially related to labour. We’ve planned the helpline specifically for members of the Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese working abroad, but it can be used by all Malayalees anywhere in the world,’’  vicar-general Fr Eugene Pereira said. The number will be announced soon.The Archdiocese will call together a meeting of representatives of the government, church and the general public to discuss issues related to NRKs at the Animation Centre, Vellayambalam, on December 30 to work out the details, he said."Services that can be offered by the Archdiocese to NRKs and avenues through which they can be offered will be considered. The helpline is one avenue which will be discussed at the meeting,’’ Pereira said.The initiative is part of the ongoing platinum jubilee celebrations of the Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese. The Archdiocese, which is 2.33 lakh-strong,  has sizable number of parishioners working abroad, one reason for planning a helpline.Recently, the Archdiocese had launched a novel initiative for North Indian migrant labourers in Thiruvananthapuram by introducing a Hindi Mass at the St Joseph’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Palayam. There are plans to extend the Hindi service to more churches, officials said.