Patna Province

The social apostolate in Patna Province started with the thrust to empower Dalits, Backward Castes and Tribals by creating awareness and organizing them so as to bring in radical change in the unjust social structure through people's involvement and developmental activities.

Fr. Philip Manthara started the activities with the slum dwellers at Mandiri, Patna. Later he organized several village camps in various parts of the province in order to give exposure to young Jesuits and other religious. Gradually Manthan came into existence at Khagaul, Patna in 1978.

1995-96 Fr. Gabriel Gonsalves started flood relief programmes in the adjacent blocks of Bettiah and gradually it was felt that there is a need to empower the people themselves in orer to take care such eventualities. This led to mass organization programme through Adult and Non-formal Education.

In 1985 Ratanpurva was started by Fr. Tom Chakalakal as a centre for out¬reach programmes of READ. Eventually the centre became more self-reliant. Release and rehabilitation of bonded labourers, non-formal education, village animation and other developmental activities were started.