Manthan (churning), the voluntary organization of the Patna Jesuit Society, continues to serve those hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic in Bihar state, eastern India. The Jesuit NGO has been active for more than 45 years in Bihar, mostly among the Musahars, the Dalit community at the bottom of the former untouchables. It was in the forefront of Bihar’s Church groups to reach out to the poor and marginalized severely affected by the nationwide lockdown to contain the pandemic. The lockdown imposed on the midnight of March 24 was eased in early June but the pandemic continues to infect hundreds in India. As on June 20, the country reported more than 400,000 positive cases, the fourth highest in the world. It also reported 13,269 deaths. Read more…