CHURCH’S AUXILIARY FOR SOCIAL ACTION (CASA) AND

EVANGELICAL FELLOSHIP OF INDIA COMMISION ON RELEIF

(EFICOR)

A. CHURCH’S AUXILIARY FOR SOCIAL ACTION (CASA)

The church’s Auxiliary for Social action or CASA is a voluntary organization of 24 Protestant
and Orthodox Churches in India. Its programmes, covering the entire country are operated from
its Headquarters, the Zonal offices, project offices and sector offices.

1. Origin and Development

CASA was born in 1947, as an expression of Christian concern for human suffering in the wake
of disturbances, which follow the partition of the country into India and Pakistan.

Prime Minister Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru appealed to the Christian community to assist in relief
work among displaced refugees. Initiatory, the support was sought from Church World Service
in New York for volunteers, medicines and gift supplies. This was the started point of co-
operation between rich community and the poor, weak and oppressed section of Indian society.

CASA, now celebrates its 61st years of serviced and witnessed various organization changes. In
1967, it was known as Christian Agency for Social Action, however, from 1972, it changed to
Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action, in 1972. In 1976, it was converted into an autonomous
registered voluntary agency. Till late 70s CASA was a relief organization but in the early 90s its
thrust was shifted from project to process and from need based approach to issue based approach.

2. Vision and Mission

CASA’s vision is inspired by the Christian faith and values. CASA visualizes a society in which
peace, justice and equality and prevail and where in all citizen, irrespective of caste, creed,
language and religion, live in peace and communal harmony. It also envisages a society where
the poor, the marginalized and the under privileged have equal opportunity for their involvement
in the development process which is values their fullest potential.

CASA actively supports all the organization toward for a just and sustainable society by creating
conditions for meaningful and disciplines involvement. CASA also responds to human suffering
and distress caused by natural disasters and calamities by providing accordance with the
development principles.

3. Objectives
The following are some of the objectives of CASA
 To facilitate empowerment of the poor irrespective of caste, creed, language and their
religion.
 To ameliorate the suffering of the down trodden, the marginalized and the weakest
sections of society.
 To bring about a change in the lives of people by involving them in this process of
change.

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  To strengthen grassroots capacities by building confidence, problem solving capacities,
resilience and skills among local people.
 To ensure people’s involvement in developing a society wherein peace, justice and
equality prevail.”

4. Function
The functioning programmes are under taken with closely co-operation with its constituencies
i.e. the people, NGO’s, Churches and the Government at various levels, to avoid duplication of
relief efforts.
CASA is registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, and with the ministry of
Home Affairs of the Government of India under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act.
Donations to Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action are exempted from Income Tax under Section
80-G.”

5. Programmes of CASA
1. Improvement of Educational Facilities in NEI
2. The Calcutta slum development Programme
3. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu disaster Relief and Capacity Building
programme
4. Food for Community Development Programe
5. Food Security Programme
6. Maharasthra Earthquake rehabilitation Programme.

6. Development Programme in the North- East India at a glance

With a focus for Health, women, Children, Education, Rural development, Social economic
development,

Networking, Tribal and Awareness Program, DPNEI has the following objectives:
 To make human potential development on priority basis in order to sharpen the
leadership qualities of people at various levels of Church, voluntary organizations (VOs),
CASA and referral group.
 To ensure women’s participation in the decision making process also ensure Gender
justice program at all levels.
 To consolidate 22 village organizations to achieve the status of VO’s in order to take the
responsibility from CASA and continue the development process.
 To initiate action based Research and intensive study of importance issues in NEI. The
program shall involve the churches, VO’s CASA and people from Grass Root Level in
the whole process of research and study.
 To facilitate the Networking of the village organization this would enable them to deal
with the larger regional issues in an effective way.
 To creates more awareness about deteriorating environmental situation and drugs abuse/
AIDS and to encourage people movement on the issues.
 To promote and strengthen co-operation among the VO’s in the North East India and
their Networking at Regional level.
 To create an effective Networking of Health Volunteers in order to promote better health
in the referral areas.

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  To create opportunities for employment, especially for rural Youth by harnessing the
available resources and involve people who are wiling to support the process.

6.1. School/Hostel Project

Improvement of educational facilities in the North East India is a unique project of CASA, which
aims at supporting churches and other deserving educational Institutions to build or renovate
school and hostel infrastructures in the remote areas on NEI region to cater educational needs of
the poor communities. It also aims at setting models for promoting value-based education in
order to build up future generations to work toward peace, equality and justice.”

6.2. Resources Centre

A regional resources centre has been set up at Mawlein, Barapani in Meghalaya. The centre will
draw knowledge and information from various sources on issues relevant to NEI. The centre will
cater to research and documentation needs of the referral communities. VO’s and other like-
minded organization those are willing to learn from the poor.

7. CASA’s Relief and Rehabilitation measures for Tsunami victims in India

CASA, the official arm of 24 Orthodox and Protestant churches in India has immediately
responded to the disaster and has provided relief to 50,000 families (30,000 in Tamil Nadu and
10,000 each in Kerala and Andra Pradesh) regardless of religion, caste or political
considerations. The value of CASA’s initial relief package was Rs. 9.05 croes.”

7.1. CASA’s immediate response

The offices were closed for Christmas holidays until 2nd January 2005. However, when this
unprecedented disaster struck, most of its offices were re-opened from 27th December 2004.

CASA has been mobilized about 70 expert staff members to be a part of the team at the operation
level to extend humitarian aid at the crisis stage. A part from this about 50 volunteers has been
mobilized from local churched and partner organizations.

The support includes dry rations kits, and non-food kits (consisting of men and women’s
clothing, blankets, kitchen utensils, sleeping mats, bed-sheets, cloth towels, 5-Lt water
containers, candles, matchboxes and soaps, etc.

Therefore, they were successful to mobilize 40,000 relief kits for the states of Tamil Nadu,
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and the Union Territory of Pondecherry. A Local Church at Trichy in
Tamil Nadu has provided 2 huge warehouses to CASa for assembling relief materials. More
over, CASA has mobilized 50,000 sheets of Tarpaulin to set up temporary shelters right from 3rd
January 2005.”_

B. EVANGELICAL FELLOSHIP OF INDIA COMMISION ON RELIEF (EFICOR)

IFICOR has been involved 41 years of ministering in relief, rehabilitation, development, water,
community organization, adult literacy, aids awareness, care, training and micro-enterprises. It
focuses on the neediest state of India and worked mainly with Evangelical churches and
organizations.

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EFICOR adopted as a holistic mission. They not only serve spiritually but also committed to
transformed socio-cultural, economic, political and religious aspects of life in the community.

1. Genesis and Development

It began as a unit of the EFI (India’s national fellowship of evangelicals) in 1967. In 1971, when
India was flooded with refugees from neighboring East Pakistan (now
Bangladesh), the international community requested EFICOR to be the channel and a full-
fledged unit. Thus EFI’s committee on refugees was established. In 1977, a disaster Cyclone
took place in Andhra Pradesh, where EFICOR gives full involvement in social work.

2. Legal status
Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief was registered under the Karnataka
Societies Registration Act, 1960 (Karnataka Act No. 17 of 1960) on 30th April 1980.The
registration number is 70/80-81

EFICOR is also registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 1976 and the
registration number is 231650411 Section 80(g) of it act.

All donations sent to EFICOR are exempted under section 80 (G) of IT Act of 1961. Regd No.
DIT (E) 2007-2008/E-38/2092 (valid till 31.03.2010).

3. Geographical focus
Current integrated development programmes are in the states of Gujarat, Maharasthra,
Chattisgarh, Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Orissa and there are plans to involve in Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal in the future. The geographical focus for
Disaster Response, Training and Capacity Building is the entire country depending on the need._

4. Key Concerns and objective

4.1. Empowerment
 To empower communities, plan and implement various programmes for their
development and transformation.
4.2. Advocacy
 To influence policies, and programmes contributing towards transformation of people
and reduce bondage, exploitation and marginalization. 
4.3. Network Formation
 To develop and facilitate networks for joint actions on social issues for achieving greater
impact on the nation.
4.4. Awareness Creation and Capacity Building
 To create awareness among churches and different groups of people on social issues and
build their capacity to respond appropriately.
4.5. Research and Dissemination
 To carry out research on various socio-economic issues to challenge concepts, policies
and practices towards appropriate intervention and developing best practices._
5. Vision, mission and goals
5.1. Visions:
 A Just, Responsible and Compassionate Society.

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5.2. Missions
 To establish in our nation sensitivity to God’s concern on social issues.
 To partner with the Church in addressing Kingdom concerns.
 To facilitate communities towards holistic transformation.
5.3. Goals
 To influence policies, people and programmes towards a better quality of life.
 To build capacities of the Church towards holistic response to human needs.
 To empower communities towards sustainable development and well being.
 To respond to people in disaster and conflict situations towards restoration and rebuilding
of lives.

6. The Challenges Ahead

6.1. Infrastructure: Even after 61st years of Independence, much of rural India continues to be
bereft of several basic amenities be it health care, education, roads, electricity, water, sanitation
etc.

6.2. Illiteracy: More than a third of the citizens being illiterate is a major scourge impinging
hard on the efforts at development and empowerment particularly of the poor.

6.3. Children: Nearly one third of India’s population is children. Discrepancy between policy
and action continue to bog the rights of children including primary education, child labor,
bonded labor etc.

6.4. Women: Gender inequities, especially among the marginalized communities continue to be
a major area of concern. Issues include violence against women inadequate health care for
women, increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS among women and low representation at various
levels of governance.

6.5. Burden of Disease: Morbidity and mortality from easily curable and preventive illness is
unacceptably high. Compounded to the prevailing situation is the steady increase of HIV and
AIDS infected.

6.6. Displacement: Several government projects continue to displace people the majority of
them again being the marginalized and poor who have been historically alienated and relocation
excludes them further. This increases their deprivation level and slows down the process of
empowerment.

6.7. Disaster: Disasters constantly continue to adversely affect development levels that have
been achieved. Super cyclone in Orissa, earthquake in Gujarat and presently Tsunami in Tamil
Nadu, and Andaman and Nicobar islands have caused great loss to those regions. The poor and
marginalized communities suffer the most during disasters.

6.8. Conflicts Situations of communal and ethnic conflicts have been rapidly escalating in
different parts of the country.

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6.9. Governance Poor governance at every level has been a major impediment in effectively
implementing all government programmes especially those aimed at poverty alleviation and
empowerment. Enhancing awareness, competencies and raising leaders at different levels and
from all groups, classes and gender will assuage the situation to some extent._

7. Programs
# Training ad capacity building
Programs are conducted for equipping those engaged in development for appropriate and
effective intervention, benefiting the poor and the marginalized. Research and publication are
undertaken to influence thinking on social issues.

# Care Model programs

Partners and network groups are motivated and equipped to start community based programs and
care homes for marginalized groups such as commercial Sex workers (CSWs).

# Integrated Development Programs

An integrated approach to community development that combines diverse but inherently
interconnected issues of economy, environment, literacy, health and local governance is adopted
for progress and transformation.

# Disaster, Response and Mitigation

Alleviating people affected by disaster from pain and loss, giving them a hope for the future and
assist those in rebuilding their lives are the focus of Disaster intervention programs. EFICOR
was involved in major disasters of the country and in about 10-15 minor disasters each year.”

8. Publications
In order to create awareness in the public, government and Donors, EFICOR publishes several
journals every year. * Drishtikone (Dec. 2002-March 2003).

This is a Hindi word for perspective or viewpoint. The magazine seeks to provide a space in
which Christians can share their perspectives and points of view on holistic mission in India. It is
published three times a year by EFICOR in an effort to mobilize Christian reflection and action.

Their vision is that the readers will motivate change in readers. It also seeks to present biblical
perspective on social issues and provides readers with news and personal information about
holistic concerns.

9. Achievements
 Over 1200 candidates mostly grass rooted workers have been trained through community
development Organizers training and community transformation training over the
years.
 EFICOR was a founder member of Christian AIDS National agency (CANA), a network
agency involved in HIV/AIDS formed in 1998.
 50 Self-help groups (SHG) involving more than 5000 women have been formed. 110 of
these saving groups are now attached to national banks and have accessed loans from
them.

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  In the past 35 years, 350 community development projects have been implemented
and 15-20 grass root partners facilitated every year.
 In the past 25 years, safe drinking water has been provided to 4000 villages, benefiting
six lakh people. 26,000 hectares o land has been treated with intensive Soil and Water
conservation measures.
 4000 were made literate in the past 20 years, literacy materials have been prepared in
malto, Kukna, Santhal, Vasava, Bondo, Gadaba and Desiya dialects and linking them
through bridge materials to the state language.
 2000 villages’ development committee (VDC) has been formed and 10,000 VDC
members trained in leadership.
 102 houses in the cyclone affected Andhra Pradesh (1977), 336 houses in the earthquake
affected Latur, 104 houses in the cyclone affected coastal Orissa and 683 houses in the
earthquake-hit Gujarat were built.
 The state Government of Orissa has recognized EFICOR as one of the leading members
of the NGO co-ordination Committee foe disaster management.

10. Disaster Management

 2005 J & K earthquake: Provided non food aid to 2000 families
 2004 Tsunami: Provided food and non-food aid to more than 8000 families. Currently
constructing 1100 permanent shelters in Tamil Nadu.
 2001 Gujarat Earthquake: Provided food and non-food aid to 15000 families and
constructed 683 houses.
 1999 Orissa Super Cyclone: Provided food and non-food aid to more than 3000 families
and constructed 104 houses and 8 community centers.
 1993 Latur, Maharasthra Earthquake: Provided food and non-food aid and built 336
houses.
 1977 Andhra Pradesh Cyclone: Provided food and non-food Constructed 102 houses.

11. Core Values

 Spirituality: EFICOR Staff, consider the word of God as foundational in all they
do, and are committed to prayer; are dependent on and guided by the Holy Spirit,
modeling Jesus in our attitude and work, thus giving glory to God.
 Significance of Family and Church: EFICOR staff recognizes the supportive role of the
family and the Church to EFICOR’s ministry, and they are committed to nurture, uphold
and facilitate their involvement in building God’s kingdom.
 Stewardship: EFICOR staff recognizes that all resources belong to, and are a gift
from God; that valuing, owning and managing these resources wisely reflect our
accountability towards God and His creation.
 People Oriented: EFICOR staffs are committed to be the voice of the people they serve;
always exhibiting compassion, gentleness, friendliness, impartiality, appreciation and
respect in all our dealings.
 Team Spirit: EFICOR staff, are committed to be interdependent and of assistance to
each other; owing the process and outcome of our activities in the context of EFICOR’s
vision, mission and goals.
 Trust and Trust Worthiness: EFICOR staffs are committed to be trustworthy and trust
others, through openness, honesty and transparency in all our dealings and actions.

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  Excellence, Creativity and Learning: EFICOR staffs, are passionate to do our best for
God, encourage innovation, and are committed to new learning.

12. Directors:
 Rev. Dino L. Touthang Executive Director.
 Mr. David Chandran Tsunami Project.
 Mr. Bisweswar Patnaik Resource Facilitation
 Rev. Kennedy Dhanabalan Dev.Edu & Capacity Bldg.
 Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Bhanja Programmes.

EVALUATION AND CONCLUSION

CASA and IFICOR understand the Gospel in holistic manner. They are committed to address the
condition of the socio-cultural, economic, political and religious aspects of life in the
community. They also deal with the immediate needs for both spiritual and material aspects of
human’s predicaments and of all God’s creation. Such as relief rehabilitation, development of
community, Sanitation program, organization, drinking water, literacy, AIDS awareness, care
and training etc.

The Church and organization of various denominations should also take up these patterns of
holistic ministry and reach out our land, (India) with the Gospel.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.indianngos.com/casa/hmt
http://ificor.org/us/legal.hmt
http://eficor.org/us/keyconcerns.hmt
http://ificor.org/us/vision.hmt
http://ificor.org/us/acheivements.htm
http:ificor.org/us/board.hmt