Patnaik: Extend all support to Missionaries of Charity units
Few days after the Union government “blocked” funding for Missionaries of Charity, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday directed all district collectors to ensure that no inmate of organisations run by the non-profit organisation across the state suffer from any kind of distress.
In a letter to all the 30 collectors, the CM asked them to be in regular touch with organisations run by Missionaries of Charity to make sure that no inmate of such outfits suffers, especially from food and healthrelated issues.
“Wherever needed, funds from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) can be utilised for this purpose,” Mr Patnaik asserted.
Many leprosy homes and orphanages are being run by Missionaries of Charity in the state.
Earlier on December 25, the Centre froze all bank accounts of Missionaries of Charity, formed by Mother Teresa to help the needy. Sources close to the development said there were some complaints against the organisation and the Central government was keeping an eye on some of its bank accounts.
The Union government froze all the accounts of the organisation to carry on with the investigation.
The CM’s order is seen as a direct challenge to the Union government. Known for his soft-corner for minority communities, the Odisha CM has managed to woo their support in all the electoral exercises.
The minorities have stood rock-solid behind the Odisha chief minister ever since he severed ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2008 following Kadhamal riots.
The riots witnessed 39 persons.