NESCOM

NESCOM

Northeast Social Communication (NESCOM) is the regional commission for Social Communications of the Northeast India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC), the Catholic Bishops Council for the northeastern region of India. Established in 1999, NESCOM serves as the media and communication coordination body for the Catholic Church across seven states of Northeast India, comprising twelve dioceses and three archdioceses, with diverse tribal, ethnic, and linguistic communities. NESCOM promotes and develops pastoral communication initiatives in the fields of print, radio, audio-visual media, digital communication, media literacy, and training. It also facilitates inter-diocesan collaboration, documentation, shared media resources, and regional representation within the wider communication structures of the Catholic Church in India and Asia. Over the years, NESCOM has worked with bishops, clergy, religious, and lay media professionals in strengthening ecclesiastical communication networks and supporting evangelisation and social outreach, while fostering cultural sensitivity and inter-community understanding within the region’s multi-ethnic context.

Origins (1974)

The roots of NESCOM go back to a meeting of the Northeast Bishops held in Tezpur on May 29, 1974, where the idea of forming a regional social communication body was first proposed. This vision was shaped under the leadership of:

• Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario, SDB (Shillong)
• Bishop Joseph Mittathany (Tezpur)
• Bishop Abraham Alangimattathil, SDB (Kohima)

Establishment and Structural Beginning

• March 8, 1999 – NESCOM was formally established in Dimapur.
• 2005 – NESCOM began functioning structurally and systematically.

At this stage:

• Most Rev. Joseph Aind, SDB, Bishop of Dibrugarh, became the First Chairman, and
• Fr. Peter Chinnappan (Diocese of Kohima) became the Founding Secretary/Director.

Leadership Over the Years

Chairmen

• Most Rev. Hubert D’Rosario, SDB – Bishop of Shillong

(Key proponent at the 1974 Tezpur meeting)

• Most Rev. Joseph Aind, SDB – Bishop of Dibrugarh

First Chairman: from March 8, 1999

• Most. Rev. George Palliparampil, SDB – Chairman

(Period following Bishop Joseph Aind)

• Most Rev. Dr. Albert Hemrom, DD – Bishop of Dibrugarh

Current Chairman

Directors / Secretaries

1. Fr. Peter Chinnappan – First Director (December 1, 1999 – May 25, 2005)
2. Fr. George Plathottam, SDB – Director (from May 10, 2005 – May 25, 2006)
3. Fr. Joseph Manickathan – Director (May 26, 2006 – May 25, 2009)
4. Fr. Thomas Parampil – Director (April 23, 2009 – January 3, 2013)
5. Fr. Gilbert Kannikattu, SSP – Director (October 19, 2012 – August 2015)
6. Fr. Alfonso Elengikal, SSP – Director (from August 2015)
7. Fr. Vincent Thomas Karmel, SSP – Director (from 2019)
8. Fr. Tom Mangattuthazhe – Director (April 13, 2021 – October 14, 2024)
9. Fr. Kampan Chinnam – Director / Secretary (from October 15, 2024 – present)

Assistant / Associate Directors

1. Fr. Ivan Vas, OFM Cap – Assistant Director(January 15, 2001 – 2002)
2. Fr. Jiji Konthaninackal – Assistant Director (November 15, 2001 – 2002)
3. Fr. Maurice P. Biswas – Associate Director (May 2, 2005 – 2006)

Coordinator

• Sr. Lucika Sangma, MSMHC – Coordinator (March 24, 2006 – 2007)

Religious and Diocesan Representation

Over the years, NESCOM has been served by priests and religious from:

• Diocesan clergy: Kohima, Dibrugarh, Imphal, Diphu, Itanagar
• Society of St. Paul (SSP) – three Pauline Fathers served consecutively
• Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)
• Capuchins (OFM Cap)

Women religious have also contributed significantly, especially in coordination and support roles, including sisters from:

• MSMHC (Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians)
• Bethany Sisters (BS)

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