India – Local Church leaders united to support migrant workers in Bodoland
Bengtol, India – October 2024 – The parish of Bengtol, in the Bodoland regional territory, hosted a meeting on 19 October between priests, religious and lay people, united to support the growing population of migrant workers in the region. The meeting was opened by Fr Francis Bosco, SDB, National Director of Migrant Services in South Asia, and aimed to highlight the urgent need to create comprehensive and effective support systems for these vulnerable people. Fr Francis Bosco, who has decades of experience working alongside migrants, highlighted the crucial role of pre-migration advice and training. His presentation also included information on the free telephone line designed to provide immediate assistance to migrants in difficulty and illustrated the extensive network of Salesians throughout India who are dedicated to assisting migrant workers. In conclusion, the meeting gave rise to several key initiatives, such as the creation of a WhatsApp group to facilitate communication and coordination between participants. Parish priests are also encouraged to raise awareness among migrant workers and collect their data, to better understand and address specific needs.