Church to adopt Uttar Pradesh village

New Delhi -- A Christian organisation here said Saturday it would adopt an economically backward village in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district, adjacent to New Delhi, to educate children and provide infrastructure facilities.

St. Thomas Orthodox Church Society, a social organisation celebrating its silver jubilee this year, will spend at least Rs.500,000 for education, socio-economic development and healthcare of the village every year, said Father P.A. Philip, chairman of the society.

The society also sought cooperation from the district administration in identifying the most deserving village or area in Ghaziabad.

"We feel it's our social responsibility as well as commitment to provide poor children and local people the basic civic, health and educational amenities free of cost," Philip said in a press release.

The society runs two schools in Ghaziabad with about 4,500 students. It also plans to organise a mega fete - Tarang 2006 - in Indirapuram, an upmarket area in Ghaziabad, to collect funds for the project.