CSI Erode Salem Diocese plan to set up medical college: New Bishop

Efforts will be made to set up a new medical college in Bethel, Salem district, on behalf of the new Erode Salem Diocese, said Dr. A. Jacob Livingston, who has taken charge as the new Bishop of the diocese.
During his welcome address at the Erode CSI campus yesterday, he said: When the CSI administration was established, there were five diocese. In the last 80 years, it has increased to 25.
Since, it is difficult to manage large areas of diocese, there has been a growing demand for the establishment of a diocese over an area of 100 kilometers. 
On that basis, the Synod has now created a diocese covering Erode, Salem, Namakkal and Krishnagiri districts. Development will be rapid only when there are small dioceses. When this area existed with the Coimbatore Thirumandalam, there was development in educational institutions and hospitals in the Coimbatore region. There was no development in Erode. 
Now, the three hospitals in the Erode Salem diocese area - Erode, Chennimalai, Marandahalli - will be upgraded. 110 acres of land in the Bethel area in Salem was used for the Agricultural Fellowship. Its founder has died. That land cannot be sold to anyone. But efforts will be made to purchase the land through a trust like CSI and establish a medical college there. Erode CSI Girls' Arts College will be converted into Bishop Thangamuthu Co-education College. Erode Teacher Training School will be upgraded to a B.Ed College. Popli has mentioned in his book that there were 106 primary schools in the Erode area. But currently there are only 27 schools. There is a shortage of teachers in many schools. There is no admission of students. Steps will be taken to reconstruct the schools again. There are eight hostels. Steps will be taken to upgrade them
too. 
There are more than seventy teaching colleges belonging to other pastorates in areas like Kollimalai, Thenkanikottai, Kalvarayan Malai, and Servarayan Malai. Steps will be taken to request the dioceses and get them for Erode Salem Diocese.  
Our youth will be encouraged to engage in pastoral work and religious education will be provided to them. 
The quality of education in schools and skill of pastors will be improved. There are 1.75 lakh Christian families in this new diocese. Appropriate steps will be taken for their progress. The Polytechnic College in Salem will be upgraded to an engineering college. The salaries of the pastors will now be paid on behalf of the diocese. Efforts will be made to build a modern office, bishop's residence, etc. for the diocese.