Currency ban: Kerala church comes forward to help those with no money

Kerala's St Martin De Porres church in Erakulam district has come forward to help those who are in urgent need of money, expecting nothing in return.

Kochi: While the central government has taken a series of steps to end the hardship being faced by the common man after the its decision to ban the old currency notes, a church in Kerala has now come forward to help those with no money.

The church made an announcement in this regard during its Sunday mass after which two collection boxes were opened to help the less privileged during demonetisation.

The announcement was made by St Martin De Porres church in Ernakulam district of Kerala, which said that it would be opening its collection box for those who are in urgent need of money, expecting nothing in return.

"There are around 200 families who come under this church. Most of them are people who may not have proper savings in bank accounts and those who do not know the workings of an ATM. Ever since the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes became illegal, they have been struggling to meet their daily needs," said Jimmy Poochakkatt, the parish priest was quoted as saying.

People could take as much money as they needed and could give it back to the church later, whenever they could.

"We did not keep track of who took what. But we were told the box mainly filled with Rs 10 and Rs 50 notes were of great help for them," said Shelson Francis, the Convenor, Church Committee Youth Wing.

The collection box is usually opened once in six months or so. By the end of Sunday, the boxes were left with only a few Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.