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Siliguri, 10 December
Fr. N. T. Scaria Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Transformative Prison Reforms
News written by: Fr C M Paul SDB
Fr. N. T. Scaria (Nedumattathil), distinguished alumnus of Salesian College Sonada, Class of 1964, has been conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award for Prison Reforms with Compassion at the 15th International Human Rights Summit & Awards held at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, on International Human Rights Day. The event was organized by the All India Council of Human Rights, Liberties and Social Justice (AICHLS).
The Global Jury commended Fr. Scaria for his faith-driven, transformative engagement with prisoners and his pioneering contribution to the justice and rehabilitation system in India. What began with his groundbreaking visit to Berhampore Central Correctional Home in 1995 evolved into one of the most impactful prison reform movements in the country, spanning West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar. His initiatives introduced vocational training, legal aid, family counselling, post-release support, and, notably, the world’s first certified motor driving school inside a prison.
Under Fr. Scaria’s leadership, the Don Bosco Prison Ministry (DBPM) became a national model of rehabilitative intervention, enabling thousands of inmates to experience release, dignity, reintegration, and renewed purpose. His ministry’s holistic approach—combining skill training, spiritual support, and human development—redefined the narrative of life behind bars.
“I went in with no plan, but came out with a conviction—that these men and women, though incarcerated, are still children of God,” Fr. Scaria reflected, recalling his early encounters with under-trial prisoners who were young, impoverished, and without legal representation. Vocational training units in tailoring, mechanics, electronics, and digital literacy soon followed, culminating in the establishment of the motor driving school that dramatically improved inmates’ employability.
Former District Magistrate Manoj Pant, closely associated with DBPM, noted the transformative outcomes: “Within five years, Fr. Scaria and his team succeeded in making this jail prisoner-friendly. Life convicts are now driving prison vehicles after being trained by the Don Bosco team.”
Over the years, recognition flowed steadily. In 2006, the National Legal Services Authority honoured him for safeguarding prisoner rights, and in 2012, he received the Pascual Chávez Award for groundbreaking pastoral leadership. His ministry further expanded its rehabilitative dimension with music, theatre, sports, and cultural programmes that helped restore emotional balance and community among inmates. Family support systems, including educational sponsorships and counselling, helped break generational cycles of incarceration and stigma. In 2022, the Salesian Province of Calcutta released Joy Behind Bars, a documentary that powerfully humanized the lives of prisoners and shifted social perception.
Now in his eighties, Fr. Scaria attributes the honour to collective mission, stating, “This is not my work. It is God’s work, carried out by many hands.” His collaborators include Salesians, volunteers, and former inmates who now serve as mentors in rehabilitation programmes.
Reflecting on his journey, colleague Fr. K. K. Sebastian remarked, “This is not the result of a PhD degree but of an authentic SDB degree—a Salesian for the poor and marginalized with love and compassion.”
Upon receiving the award, Fr. Scaria reiterated the essentiality of his vocation: “Prison Ministry should be considered an integral part of the Salesian apostolate. It touches the lives of thousands of needy and problematic youth and offenders. This is what Don Bosco wanted.”
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