These large projects will be structured according to the standard intervention schemes by the PDO network so they can be replicated in the future by those who collaborate with the Salesians.
During talks, the delegates together agreed to develop what they called the "Don Bosco Green Alliance", a campaign to cope with environmental problems. The promotion and protection of children's rights were also identified as urgent issues in need of coordinated action; the third macro-project concerned agricultural training and the supply of means to foster sustainable development, including organic farming; fourth, a formation project for the emancipation of women was also approved.
At the opening of the meeting, Fr Nestor Guria, Provincial of Dimapur, referred to the parable of Lazarus to remind participants of how Jesus himself worried about the poor and the needy. For his part, the Regional Councilor for South Asia, Fr Maria Arokiam Kanaga, affirmed in a message sent to the participants: "In the secular world, when one speaks of development, it generally means industrial development, the construction of buildings... For us, called to be prophets, mystics and servants of the young, this term should have a completely different meaning: it must be in line with the evangelical vision of society and, also, in agreement with Laudato Si '. Development must respect God, man and nature. (...) So, now we have to change the paradigm. In all our educational institutions we must promote an ecologically-based education and transmit our love for nature to our students. "
Fr Noel Maddichetty, Director of "BoscoNet", the Indian Salesian NGO, urged participants to join forces and work as a network to act as a single force, to stimulate the social transformation of young people and the marginalized.
Other papers were also presented at the meeting on topics such as: human rights in North East India; opportunities and good practices achievable through Corporate Social Responsibility programs; and updates on accounting and administrative procedures of PDOs.
