(ANS - New Delhi) - The Salesian Fr Thomas Koshy was appointed by the Federal Ministry for the Welfare of Women and Children as a member of the committee that will draw up the draft rules of the "Juvenile Justice Act", the legislation governing the treatment of children and young people who need care and protection.

The commission, made up of 13 members who were appointed - plus possibly another 2 as facilitators at the discretion of the Chairman of the Committee - will present its draft regulation within 45 days from the date of establishment.

Fr Koshy was born in Munnar, in the State of Kerala, in 1950, and belongs to the Salesian Province of Hyderabad. He has been a professed Salesian since 1969, and has spent his entire Salesian life in the service of street children, particularly in the city of Vijayawada, in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

He is currently the Director of the Don Bosco National Forum for Youth at Risk, which is the network of all the Salesian centres that serve street children, young workers and young people in difficulty in India. This network currently operates in 87 cities in the country.

The appointment of Fr Koshy is indicative of the recognition given to the quality of the work of the Salesians in India for needy children. And to give more prestige to the nomination is the fact that the Salesian is probably the only member of the Commission representing an NGO.

Published 29/01/2016