Malankara Social Service Society becomes a member of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) initiative

The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) aligns academic and research institutions with the UN and encourages collaboration among such institutions. Nearly 80 Indian institutions, including IITs are members of UNAI. In a statement made in Kerala, Malankara Social Service Society (MSSS) director Fr Bovas Mathew said that MSSS is the first social service organisation from India to be made a member.

The membership will enable MSSS to collaborate and exchange ideas with organisations across the globe on poverty eradication and sustainable development. The 55th anniversary celebrations of MSSS and a ‘Karmolsav’ will be inaugurated on Tuesday. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien will inaugurate a public meeting in connection with the event on January 11.

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos will preside over the function. Mayor V K Prasanth will be the chief guest on the occasion. The MSSS was started in 1960 by Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios. Over the decades, the organisation has undertaken various projects. At present, it is an official implementation agency for the National Rural Livelihood Mission under the Rural Development Ministry. More recently, it was through the MSSS that the Thiruvananthapuram Major Archdiocese sent water consignments to flood ravaged Chennai.