Provincial Federation Council of DB Alumni Meets at Dimapur By Fr. Tarcisius ToppoDimapur, Mar. 15. The first ever meeting of the Provincial Federation Council Meeting of Don Bosco Alumni of Dimapur Province was held on 15 March, at Don Bosco Provincial House, Dimapur in which around 40 participated, representing the various local units of the Federation from the states of Assam, Nagland and Manipur.
Mr. Francis Pelevituo Solo, Director of Administrative Institute, Kohima, in his presidential address welcomed the participants and expressed the hope that the movement be strengthened and enlivened and exhorted those present to take the movement forward.
Being a member of the 9th Asia Australia Congress of Don Bosco Alumni, held at Fontana Leisure Park, Philippines, in December 2008, with the theme ''The Salesian Family Spirit - Our call to Holiness and Mission,'' he read out the statement of the Assembly in the presence of all, with an invitation to be leaven of change in the society. Giving the annual report of the organization, Dr. Stephen Kamson, Medical Doctor in the Railway Department, Dimapur, expressed satisfaction at the development of the organization in the region. The reports of the various units were also presented.
The interactive session that followed, focused on animation and action plans for the future in helping the marginalized and underprivileged youth of the region, especially in the local levels of the organization. The meeting also centred on membership drive and enrolment into the organization, affiliation and annual fees, data collection for making Don Bosco Alumni Director, and setting up an office for proper organization and functioning of the organization.
In the region, the organization was formally inaugurated in May 2007, and has now ten units with more than 200 officially registered members, in the states of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. Decisions to increase the number of units as well as start units in the state of Arunachal Pradesh and strengthen the movement have been also taken.
Began in 1911, the organization operates in almost 125 countries. Its world-wide membership crosses over forty two thousand, networking with the various governments and non-government agencies in the education and empowerment of youth especially the marginalized and the underprivileged through sponsorship, job placement etc. The organization has almost 100 units in India with over fifteen thousand members and eight thousand life members, in all the states of the union.
Present for the occasion were also the Regional Delegate of the organization Joseph Chittissery SDB and Vice President, Mr. Daniel Cameroon, from Don Bosco School, Dibrugarh.