Temperance Commission
 

Chairman
Bp. Dr. Sebastian Thekethecheril
Vijayapuram Bishop's House, P. Box 82, Kottayam - 686 001, Kerala, India. 
Tel: +91 481 - 2563747 (O), 2565863 (P), Fax: (0481) 25 65 863
E-mail: curiavbh@sify.com
 

Vice-Chairmen

Bp. Joshua Mar Ignathios
Amalagiri Catholic Bishop's House, Punnamoodu,
Mavelikara - 690 101, Alappuzha Dt., Kerala, India
Tel (O): +91 479 2344081, Fax (O): +91 479 2344083
E-mail- marignathios@yahoo.co.in

Bp. Mar. Remigiose Inchananiyil
Bishop’s House, P.B. No.1, Thamaraserry P.O., Kozhikode Dt. 673 573
Secretary
Rev. Fr. T.J. Antony
St. Joseph’s Church, Kureepuzha, Perinad P.O., Kollam – 691 604, Kerala, India
E-mail:antonytjames@yahoo.co.in
 

A word about Temperance Commission

 

The commission, constituted on 4th of December 1998, has Bishop Sebastian Thekethecheril  as chairman and Archbishop Mar George Valiamattom and Archbishop SusaPakyam as vice Chairmen and one secretary, Fr. Paul Karachira. Under this commission, functions the state wide Anti Alcohol movement, ‘KCBC Madyavirudha Samithy’.  This samithy has 29 effectively working Diocesan units with a Priest Director in all the 29 Catholic Dioceses of Kerala. in all three Rites, Syromalabar, Latin and Syro Malankara. This Samithy has a well structured constitution and secretariat comprising the four commission members, two representatives each elected from all 5 regions with their respective Regional Directors, A state animator, elected from among all 5 regional animators, joining the team composes the secretariat which meets once in every two months. Besides the secretariat, there is a State Executive which includes presidents, secretaries and animators from each region joining the secretariat. The general body of this Samithy comprises six elected members from all 29 Dioceses.

 

KCBC Madyavirudha Samithy aims at 3 types of Reductional activities namely Demand reduction, Supply reduction and Risk reduction following the directions of W.H.O. which declared Alcoholism is a Disease in 1956. Samithy takes up a wide range of activities in Anti Drug conscientisation. Anti drug treatment programmes and Anti alcohol protestation activities, joining hand to hand with All Kerala Temperance Movement and Kerala Prohibition council.

 

Vision

 

A Drug Free Church and Society in Kerala.


Mission

  1. Endeavour for realizing the vision of achieving a Drug free society in Kerala.

  2. Generate an antidrug attitude in Catholic Community of Kerala and society  at large.

  3. Formulate principles and activities that would discharge the present use of drugs, especially that of  Alcohol. 

  4. Initiate and propagate treatment facilities to liberate alcoholics & drug addicts. 

  5. Vibrate the conscience of Kerala Society at large against various types of addictive substances, especially of Alcohol, Smoking, Drug abuse and Panmasala. 

  6. Co ordinate all antidrug activities of other organizations and associations in the Church.

  7. Pressurize the State Government to bring about legal prohibitionary steps against all kinds of drug abuse in the state, to abide strictly by the Abkarilaws, and to actualize the article 232 and 447 of Panchayathi Raj Bill.

  8. Cooperate with Madyvirudha JankeeyaMunnay, a corporate of all anti alcohol movements, in all its activities of Non violent nature.

  9. Constitute a forum of leaders of  moral strength against Alcohol and drug abuse.

  10. To create an attitude of moral responsibility  against the social evils.  

Activities

  1. Start Anti-Alcohol movements in all Catholic Parishes in Kerala, by putting up units of   

  2. KCBC Madyavirudha Samithy there.

  3. To conduct conscientation programmes in the following forms
    a. Anti-Alcohol awareness programmes like seminars, quiz, leadership Training programmes, 
        corner  meetings
    b. Exhibitions, film shows, distributing printouts, books etc.
    c. Anti-liquor protest Rallies, fasting Dharma, Sathyagrahas etc.

  4. Arrange more De-addiction centres.

  5. Stage Protest against illegal production of all kinds of drugs & beverages.

  6. Organize nonviolent campaign that State Government may bring about prohibition

  7. Conduct training programmes for the activists and leaders in Anti Alcohol movements.

  8. Make sure that alcohol is not kept or distributed in any Catholic house in connection with home celebrations or festivals.

Structure of KCBC Madyavirudha Samithy:

All the 29 Dioceses are grouped in 5 Regions:

 

Malabar
6 Dioceses (Kannur, Thalassery, Mananthavady, Bathery, Thamarassery and Kozhikod.)


Thrissur

4 Dioceses (Palakad, Thrissur, Irinjalakuda and Kottapuram)

 

Ernakulam
6 Dioceses (Ernakulam, Kochi, Varapuzha, Kothamangalam, Idukky and Muvattupuzha)

 

Kottayam

8 Dioceses (Kottayam, Pala, Kanjirapally, Thiruvalla, Mavelikkara, Vijayapuram, Changanassery and Alappuzha)


Trivandrum

5 Dioceses (Thiruvananthapuram (L), Thiruvananthapuram (M), Punaloor, Neyyattinkara  and Kollam)

 

 Samithy functions under KCBC Temperance Commission - focuses on three reductional functions namely:-
 

a) Demand Reduction – Conscientations of various kinds.


b) Supply Reduction - includes fights & struggles of all kinds of Non violent nature, requesting state Government to reduce the number of centres of production and sale of all beverages, especially of Alcohol.


c) Risk Reduction - of treating addicts of Alcohol and Drugs improving the personality of the addicts to bring them to a new life. This includes medical treatment, psychological helps, spiritual encouragement and social support.

There are many Centres in the state by member dioceses of KCBC that give Anti-Alcohol treatment free of cost. Patients are to meet only the food expenses during the stay for 31days.


KCBC Madyavirudha Samithy is functioning in five levels of pyramidal nature – Parish, Forane, Diocese, Region and State. At all levels, 15 member structure are maintained. 1 president, 3 vice presidents ( 1 lady), 1 Gen. secretary, 3 secretaries with one lady , One Animator and Director, Six committee members. Diocesan Director is appointed by the Bishop.
 

1. Parish level: Representatives of family units and pious associations and organizations in the parish constitute the general body of KCBC Madyavirudha Samithy in the Parish. From this general body 15 member executive committee is elected.


2. Forane level: Representatives from Parish Samithy constitute forane Samithy and there from forane samithy is elected.


3. Diocesan level: All parish /forane committee is form the Diocesan General body. From this the Diocesan Committee of 15 members is elected.


4. Regional level: Representatives of all Dioceses in each region form the Regional General body and elect Regional Samithies.


5. State level: State General body is constituted by 6 members each from all Dioceses and elects two members each from all 5 regions and a state animator to form the secretariat along with the commission members.


Duties and functions of the Office Bearers:


Members of the KCBC Temperance Commission: The Chairman (Bishop), Two Vice Chairmen (Bishops) and the Secretary (Priest) appointed by KCBC  forming the Directorate will supervise the whole functions of KCBC Madyavirudha Samithy. The Secretary will be the State General Secretary of the Samithy.

Under this commission functions the State Secretariat, which is of five Vice Presidents, five Secretaries, five Regional Directors and one State Animator.


The five state Vice Presidents representing five regions will see to the Reductional activities of Demand, Supply and Risk (Treatment).


The five state secretaries will see to the organizing, programming and financial aspects of the Samithy.

The state Animator elected from among the Regional animators will see to the spiritual animation in state level programmes.


The whole functions are to be in consultation and directions of the Regional Directors. The State Secretariat Members should have access to officials of respective positions to supervice, organize and execute de-addiction activities in the corresponding Dioceses of their Regions.
 

For detailed informations: Refer to the By-laws of KCBC Madyavirudha Samithy or


Contact:

Secretary, Temperance Commission

St. Joseph’s Church, Kureepuzha, Perinad P.O., Kollam – 691 604, Kerala, India
E-mail:antonytjames@yahoo.co.in