A Catholic church diocese in Central Kerala has come up with a welfare scheme for families having five or more children,  a move seen as encouraging their community to boost its numbers in the state.

The initiative, launched by the Family Apostolate of the Pala diocese under the Syro-Malabar church, seeks to offer a monthly financial assistance of Rs.1500 to the couples who are married after the year 2000 and have five or more children. Women who are delivering their fourth children onward are entitled for free delivery care at a hospital run by the church while the children who are born as the fourth or subsequently in a family will be given scholarships at an engineering college run by the church.

The scheme was announced at an online meeting on Monday by Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt as part of the 'Year of the Family' celebrations of the church. Commenting on development, Fr. Joseph Kuttiankal, Director of the Family Apostolate, said the scheme was planned as an assistance to the large families, especially in the post COVID-19 scenario. “This is being planned as a minimal assistance to the families who might be finding it hard to make both their ends meet. The actual number of families who are eligible for the benefits under the scheme are yet to be ascertained.’’, he said.

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