P. Joseph Victor Raj, is a Post Graduate in Social Work from Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur (1987-89) and has completed 31 years of service in development sector.

After working in various NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) for 7 years, he founded the Organisation HOPE (Holistic approach for People’s Empowerment) in Puducherry in 1996 and specialised in Capacity Building, Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Publication, Campaign, Advocacy and Networking in the fields of Child Rights and Governance. HOPE has published posters on almost all social legislations.

In 2010, he was elected as the State Convener of CACL (Campaign Against Child Labour) for Tamil Nadu & Puducherry and spearheaded various initiatives regarding RTE (Right to Education), definition of age of children, Bonded Child Labour in Mills, CLPRA (Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act) Amendment, etc. In this capacity, he has succeeded in his Public Interest Litigation in Chennai High Court for enforcing Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act in Puducherry.

He was the National Convener of CACL between 2014 and 2019; conducted a nation-wide campaign during 25th Anniversary of UNCRC (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child) and was involved in the advocacy with the Parliamentarians for the amendment for CLPRA.

He was selected as the Puducherry Convener for National Election Watch and was involved in Election Watch activities during Assembly Elections 2011, General Elections 2014, Assembly Elections 2016 and General Elections 2019.

He also serves as an Advisory Committee Member in Puduvai Vaani, the Community Radio of Pondicherry University.

He is the recipient of  Don Bosco Past Pupils Award for Social Cause and Justice Shivraj Patil Award for service to humanity.