660 India: Don Bosco and National Institute of Defense
A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: INDIA
With so many provinces in India, the sheer volume of news that 'austraLasia' receives makes the publication of everything impossible!  But the following item is of particular interest since it shows the involvement of Salesians at a national level.
 

DON BOSCO AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL DEFENSE

 

Fr.Joe Fernandez sdb

 

The Indian Parliament passed the Juvenile Justice Act 2000 on December 30, 2000 replacing all the other past legislations realting to child welfare.  The National Institute of Social Defense (NISD), a wing of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt of India, is entrusted with the task of implementing the JJAct in all the States of he Indian Union.  Among other things NISD organizes training programmes for both Government and Non-Government Organizations in order to disseminate the salient features of the JJAct and to empower them in implementing the Act.  

 

The Director  of NISD requested the Don Bosco Veedu Trivandrum Society to organize a training programme for the Southern region of the country comprising the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.  We accepted the offer and thirty delegates from reputed agencies, including the Salesians dealing with child welfare were selected for the training from Feb.26 to March 1, as per the directives of the NISD.

 

The response was exceptionally positive. The State was represented by the Secretary,  Ministry of Social Welfare, the Director, Joint Director and Assistant Director of the  Department. Others who honoured us with their presence were the Lok Ayukta of the Govt. of Kerala, retired Judges, police officers and probationary officers.  The delegates have submitted several recommendations to the state Governments regarding their relationship with NGOs and for the immediate and total implementation of the JJAct which has placed the child and its interest at the centre!

 

We are proud to have been chosen by the Government to be a partner in its efforts in alleviating the sufferings of the millions of innocent children in our country.  This training programme established our credibility as a committed organization.

 

Fr.Philip Parakkat, the director of our numerous services to the young was mainly responsible for the impeccable organization of the programme. He is a consultant to the Government on many important issues related to children’s welfare. Fr.Joe Fernandez, the Rector played his role and Fr.George Ndumkallel put in his share,too.