Serving Catholic Bishop to donate kidney to Hindu man

May 27, 2016

Kottayam, May 27: In a noble gesture, a Catholic Bishop in Kerala has decided to donate one of his kidneys to save the life of a 30-year-old Hindu man, who is suffering from the organ failure.

bishop

Auxiliary Bishop of Pala Diocese Jacob Murickan today appeared before an authorisation committee of Kottayam Government Medical College to complete all legal formalities with regard to donating one of his kidneys to E Sooraj.

"This is perhaps for the first time in the history, a serving Bishop is donating one of his kidneys to save a valuable life," said Kidney Federation Chairman Father Davis Chiramal.

Chiramal, who had earlier donated his kidney to an ailing person in Kerala, said the organ transplantation surgery will be performed at Lakeshore Hospital, Ernakulam, on June 1.

"Sooraj belongs to a very poor family. He is the sole bread winner of his family comprising his mother and wife", Chiramal said.

He had lost his father four years ago. Later, his brother died of heart attack.

"Hearing his sad stories, the Bishop decided to donate one of his kidneys to the Hindu youth. We also want to generate money from generous people for successfully completing the organ transplantation surgery," the priest said.

Muricken was declared Auxiliary Bishop of Palai in 2012 while serving as the Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator.

On 19 September 2013, he, along with the other newly-appointed Bishops from around the world, was received in audience by Pope Francis at the Vatican.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

•    Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

•    STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

•    Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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