Catholic woman appointed vice president of Maharashtra State Minority Commission

08 July 2013: For the first time in India, a Catholic woman will be vice president of the Maharashhtra State Minority Commission. Janet Lawrence D'Souza, who was appointed on Wednesday told AsiaNews she was really grateful for the opportunity to serve Maharashtra minorities and identify the problems and challenges they face. Janet is the first woman to hold this office.
A member of the St Pius X Parish in Mulund, Mumbai, Janet is married and has two children. She is an active member in the ruling Congress Party, where she has held various positions. "The persecution and intimidation suffered by the Christian community for religious reasons, in particular in rural areas, are the biggest challenges to deal with," she explained. "Fabricated cases of forced conversions are dangerous to the peaceful coexistence of all communities. Attacks on our churches, or other places of worship not only ruin harmony and peace, but also threaten the development and progress of our state and our nation," she added.
Burial grounds for Christians is another issue that needs to be resolved soon, she noted, because the Christian community in Mumbai and other districts of Maharashtra, do not have enough land to bury their dead."
Source: AsiaNews