Khunti Diocese Workshop Focuses on Church Action Against Bonded Labour And Unsafe Migration – Catholic Connect

Diocesan Workshop in Khunti Addresses SDGs on Decent Work, Justice, and Safe Migration

Executive Summary

A workshop was convened in Khunti on October 24, 2025, for approximately 40 priests, religious leaders, and catechists. Organized by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Commission for Migrants, the event focused on developing proactive strategies to combat bonded labour, human trafficking, and unsafe migration. The discussions and proposed actions directly align with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning decent work, reduced inequalities, and justice.

Strategic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The workshop’s objectives were framed to contribute directly to the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Key areas of focus included:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The primary goal is to address Target 8.7, which calls for immediate measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery, and human trafficking. The emphasis on safe migration also supports Target 8.8, which aims to protect labour rights and promote secure working environments for all workers, including migrants.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: By focusing on the protection of vulnerable migrant families, the initiative works towards reducing inequalities. It directly supports Target 10.7, which seeks to facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The call for the Church to become actively involved strengthens local institutional frameworks for justice and protection, in line with Target 16.2, which aims to end abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The event itself exemplified a multi-stakeholder partnership, bringing together diocesan leadership, the national CCBI commission, and a civil society expert from the National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour.

Action Plan for Parish-Level Implementation

Bishop Vinay Kandulna of Khunti mandated that all parishes actively support and protect vulnerable migrant families. To achieve this, a series of concrete actions were outlined for implementation across the diocese’s 22 parishes and associated mission stations:

1. Establishment of systematic registration systems within each parish to document migrants before their departure.
2. Development and implementation of parish-led initiatives designed to promote safe and responsible migration practices.
3. Utilization of technological tools, such as the in-app registration feature within the Catholic Connect application, to streamline migrant support and tracking.
4. Integration of the workshop’s principles into a wider series of training programmes being conducted across the state of Jharkhand.

Key Stakeholders and Personnel

The initiative is driven by a collaboration of key leaders and experts:

• Bishop Vinay Kandulna (Diocese of Khunti): Provided the directive for proactive Church involvement, framing migrants as a central concern for the community.
• Fr. Jaison Vadassery (Executive Secretary, CCBI Commission for Migrants): Introduced practical measures, including the technological solution for migrant registration.
• Mr. Nirmal Gorhana (General Convener, National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour): Served as the main resource person, providing specialized knowledge on the issue.
• Fr. Bipin Kumar Pani (Diocesan Director, Commission for Migrants): Coordinated the local workshop and contextualized it within the broader regional strategy.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article’s focus on addressing “bonded labour” and “human trafficking” directly connects to SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The fight against these forms of modern slavery is a core component of ensuring decent work.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The emphasis on tackling “unsafe migration” and promoting “safe and responsible migration” aligns with SDG 10. This goal seeks to reduce inequality within and among countries, including facilitating orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 8.7: Eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking

   The article explicitly states that the workshop’s purpose is to address “bonded labour” and “human trafficking.” The call by Bishop Vinay Kandulna for the Church’s “urgent and proactive involvement” and the presence of the General Convener of the National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour directly link the article’s content to the immediate measures required by this target.

2. Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration

   The article highlights the need to counter “unsafe migration” by having parishes “implement initiatives to promote safe and responsible migration.” The specific suggestion by Fr. Jaison Vadassery for parishes to “establish systems for registering migrants before departure” is a practical step towards implementing the planned and well-managed migration policies mentioned in this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention any official SDG indicators. However, it implies several process-based indicators that can be used to measure the progress of the initiatives discussed:

• Number of parishes with migrant support initiatives

  The article states that all “22 full-fledged parishes” will implement initiatives. Tracking the number of parishes that have successfully launched these programs serves as a direct indicator of the scope and implementation of the project.

• Establishment of migrant registration systems

  The call to “establish systems for registering migrants” implies that the number of parishes or dioceses that have created such a system can be measured. This would indicate progress towards creating a support structure for safe migration.

• Number of migrants registered

  The mention of an “in-app registration feature for migrant support” in the Catholic Connect app suggests a quantifiable indicator. The number of migrants who register through this app or other parish systems can be tracked to measure the reach and effectiveness of the safe migration initiatives.

• Number of training programmes conducted

  The article notes that the workshop is part of a “wider series of training programmes being conducted across Jharkhand.” The total number of these workshops and the number of participants trained (“Around 40 participants” in this one) can be used as an indicator of capacity-building efforts to combat trafficking and unsafe migration.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: catholicconnect.in