Catholic Council of North India Discusses Strategies to Combat Unemployment

Chandigarh, September 1, 2025 – The Regional Catholic Council of the North (RCCN) has resolved to tackle youth unemployment through coordinated measures, following a two-day meeting of the Regional Bishops' Council of the North (RBCN) in Chandigarh on August 30 and 31. The conference, which brought together 64 participants—including bishops from the Delhi, Jalandhar, Jammu-Srinagar, and Simla-Chandigarh dioceses—focused on pastoral and practical strategies to address joblessness among young Catholics in northern India. The event was organised under the guidance of Fr. Antony Thuruthiyil, Deputy Secretary of RCCN, in collaboration with the Diocese of Simla-Chandigarh.

During the meeting, the Regional Catholic Council of the North welcomed two newly appointed bishops: Bishop Sahaya Thadeus of Simla-Chandigarh and Bishop Jose Sebastian of Jalandhar. The first day of the meeting opened with a presentation by Adv. Sukhpreet Kaur, a young lawyer from the Diocese of Simla-Chandigarh. Adv. Sukhpreet elaborated on various government schemes, policies, and job opportunities available to unemployed youth while narrating her own personal journey from struggle to success. Her testimony encouraged participants to remain hopeful despite challenges.

During the meeting, several attendees expressed concern that, despite being eligible, many Catholics often miss out on government jobs and also hesitate to avail themselves of minority benefits.

Fr. Chetan Machado, National Executive Secretary of the Youth Commission of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, provided an in-depth analysis of the unemployment crisis in the country. He noted that northern states report higher unemployment rates than the national average, with Haryana topping at 37.4 per cent. He highlighted that Catholic communities in these regions, though small in number, face unique challenges in securing employment, including migration issues, limited Church infrastructure, and instances of discrimination.  

Fr. Machado emphasised the dignity of work as a participation in God’s divine plan, drawing on Catholic Social Teaching and key papal documents. Referencing encyclicals such as Rerum Novarum, Laborem Exercens, and Caritas in Veritate, along with Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ and Evangelii Gaudium, he connected various teachings from these documents to the Indian context, underscoring work as both sacred and essential to human dignity.

The council also acknowledged the significant role of Catholic institutions and youth movements across the country in training and skilling catholic youth to be qualified for jobs. The Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), which operates across 132 dioceses, provides leadership and skill development training to thousands of young people each year, leading to notable improvements in employability. Catholic educational institutions and training centres have enabled tens of thousands of students to secure job placements. Additionally, Catholic entrepreneurs are increasingly leveraging government schemes with promising outcomes, although those in the northern regions of India still trail behind their southern counterparts.

To address the unemployment crisis in North India, RCCN committed to collecting data on qualified but unemployed Catholic youth, as well as those already working in government and private sectors. Each diocese pledged to develop systematic strategies, invest in modern education and professional training, and forge industry partnerships to prepare youth for the current job market.

The two-day meeting concluded with a message of hope, affirming that the Catholic Church in North India remains committed to journeying alongside its youth—not viewing them as challenges to fix, but as valuable potential to be nurtured with faith, dignity, and meaningful opportunities.

By Sr. Rani Punnasseril HCM

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