Social Initiatives for Growth and Networking

Social Initiatives for Growth and Networking (SIGN) is the official body of the Catholic Bishops of Jharkhand and Andamans (JHAAN) for social concern and human development. It anchors the efforts of eight Social Service Societies of the dioceses of Daltonganj, Dumka, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Khunti, Ranchi and Simdega in promoting a just and humane society based on the gospel values of love, equality and dignity to all.

Social Initiatives for Growth and Networking (SIGN) is the official body of the Catholic Bishops of Jharkhand and Andamans (JHAAN) for social concern and human development. It is a non-profit society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Though the Port Blair diocese also comes under the JHAAN region, for practical reasons SIGN anchors the efforts of the eight Social Service Societies of the dioceses of Daltonganj, Dumka, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Khunti, Ranchi and Simdega in Jharkhand. It promotes the efforts of faith-based organisations and networks with all like-minded NGOs in Jharkhand.

It is also a natural platform for the eight partners for cross-learning and gap analysis. The forum — SIGN — is the state-level face, or state-level representative, of the eight partner dioceses, and all of them together own its identity and destiny.

What we do

SIGN is known through its different programme activities and projects — CBDP, Safe Migration, Natural Resource Management, Youth Animation, Capacity Building, Routine Immunisation and Polio Eradication. SIGN is gaining goodwill and a strong interface with the local as well as the state government. It has good linkages with all the Diocesan Social Service Societies of Jharkhand and can act in a coordinated manner. We also work with international humanitarian aid agencies such as UNICEF, Caritas India, CRS, Manos Unidas and Kindermissionswerk, and with other local and national NGOs.