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Salesian Appointed to Kerala Child Rights Commission

Bangalore

Fr. Philip Parakatt SDB

Salesian Appointed to Kerala Child Rights Commission

17 February 2014

ChildEducare, Marginalized, Social Life, Youth,

- Fr. KO Thomas

Fr. Philip Parakatt SDB is the first priest to be appointed by the Government of Kerala as a member of the Kerala Child Rights Commission. Fr. Philip Parakatt SDB has assumed responsibility as member of the Kerala Child Rights Commission. The Government of Kerala in its Cabinet Meeting on 23 December had approved the appointment and announced to the media that six members had been selected for the Kerala Child Rights Commission, which is the Statutory Body for the monitoring and facilitation of Child Rights in Kerala as per the Commissions for the Protection of Child Rights Act 2005 and the Kerala State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights 2012.

Unlike in some other States where only the Chairperson of the Commission is full time and the members are part time, having only to attend occasional meetings and carry out inspections, in Kerala it is a full time job with working hours from 10 am to 5 pm. The chairperson of the commission is of cabinet rank and the members of the commission are of the rank of principal secretary. The members are paid salary/honorarium, entitled to TA/DA, residential accommodation or rent allowance, conveyance, medical treatment, etc. The appointment is for 3 years. It is the involvement and contribution of Fr. Philip in the field of child welfare during the past nearly 15 years that has prompted the Government of Kerala to select him to this post. It is a great opportunity to contribute in the framing of policies and monitoring of the programmes of the Government for the promotion of Child Rights and welfare of children in the State. Fr. Philip has been given the charge of Trivandrum and Kollam Districts.