Sister Joicy Joy provides legal support and advocacy for tribal communities in the Wayanad district of Kerala, India. A member of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, she offers free legal aid, mediates family disputes and educates others on their constitutional rights.
Sister Joicy lives in Kakkavayal, a village in Wayanad, where she works with the Kerala government’s Women and Child Development Department. She also serves as a legal adviser to Neethi Vedhi, a nonprofit working to defend the rights of marginalized groups.
“I grew up seeing poor people mistreated,” she said. “That made me want to study law and help them stand up for themselves.”
Originally from nearby Vazhavatta, Sister Joicy joined the Congregation in 1996 after meeting the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth during her college years. She completed her formation in Mokama and later served in Mumbai, working with an NGO in a slum while pursuing her legal education.
In 2014, she returned to Kerala to work with Neethi Vedhi. Through this partnership, she leads awareness sessions, provides legal counsel, and helps women facing domestic violence. When reconciliation is not possible, she helps clients navigate the court system.
Sister Joicy also coordinates Prathiksha, an outreach program run by the Congregation. The program assists women, children and tribal families with access to government services, fair wages and health care. Teams frequently visit tribal homes to build trust and address issues such as land encroachment, substance abuse and lack of documentation.
“We hold about 75 awareness sessions each year, reaching more than 2,000 people,” she said. “We also provide counseling for domestic violence and mental health issues.”
In one recent case, she helped a tribal woman named Nani recover her share of ancestral land after years of dispute. Of the 105 domestic violence cases handled last year, 99 were resolved through mediation.
Her work reflects a deep commitment to justice and equality for India’s Indigenous people.
Read the full Q&A with Sister Joicy Joy on Global Sisters Report.