PLANNING MEETING FOR SKILLS PROJECT

Manish Parmar

MATUNGA, APRIL 20, 2010: A meeting was held at Don Bosco Provincial House, Matunga on 19th April 2010 to finalize details of the Skill Development Programme that is being promoted by DB Tech India. This project, which aims at training and placing in employment 50,000 youth across India in the next two years, is being funded by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). The objective of the project is to enable rural youth, living below the poverty line, secure a job and thus improve the economic conditions of their family.

The meeting began with Fr Michael Fernandes, Provincial, addressing the participants who had come from the three states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. He complimented DB Tech India for taking up this project and for the efforts they had put in to ensure its successful implementation. He called on the Salesians of the province to make a wholehearted commitment to this project, since through this project we would be serving the truly poor and marginalized youth. He reminded the participants that the province had both, the facilities and the expertise to take this project forward; all we now need is the determination to make the project work.

Fr Joseph Aikarchalil, National Director for DB Tech India, then gave the participants a detailed overview of the project. He explained the different stages of the project – mobilization, training and placement – the methodology of implementation, and the monitoring and reporting systems. He not only clarified the doubts raised by the participants, but he also assured them that the DB Tech national office would be available throughout the implementation of the project to assist the centres with any difficulty they faced. Before the meeting concluded, the participants met in state-wise groups to work out practical details concerning the project.

NREGS Job Card Distribution Camp At Kapadvanj

KAPADVANJ, APRIL 8, 2010: All through the past year, Dristi Don Bosco has been consistently working at enabling rural households in the Kapadvan taluka draw maximum benefit from the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). One of the villages that we have been focusing our attention on is Chapatya, belonging to Jagadupur panchayat. The people of this village had tried several times to get their Job Cards, but all their efforts were in vain. Even the written applications that they had submitted to the village and taluka panchayat offices had yielded not fruit.

However, all this changed on 7th April 2010, when Dristi Don Bosco organized a Job Card Distribution Camp in this village. Through the combined efforts of our staff and the villagers, the government officials were pressurized into issuing Job Cards to 54 households in this village. What made the event special was that the Talati, Sarpanch and all concerned government officials were present at the Camp to extend their service to the people. ‘Be the peoples’ servant before being a government servant’, was the underlying message of the day. This event has empowered the people to now take up other issues with the government.

WOMENS DAY WITH A DIFFERENCE AT DON BOSCO KAWANT

KAWANT, APRIL 19, 2010: Kawant was once upon a time known for its cultural heritage and beauty, but as time passes, one can see the changes that are taking place in their life style and culture. The sight at Holi (Gher) was an eye opener. People from all walks of life would come on Gher day, to see the beautiful adivasi cultural dances in the town. But this year, the sight was disappointing. Only two or three groups were seen in the town giving their best shots. The community of Don Bosco, Kawant decided to revive the adivasi culture by inviting the different dancing groups of Kawant taluka on April 14, 2010, a day marked for Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti and Women’s day.

The day began with the fete games organized by the scouts of Don Bosco followed by the cultural dances from four different groups of Umti, Nakhal, Raisingpura and Vazepur. Each group was given Twenty minutes to perform on the stage and the winner was the group from Raisingpura. Rathwa women’s group from Kawant performed a skit on the role and importance of Gram Sabha in the villages. Many women realised that the key to the development in the village is through attendance and raising ones voice in the Gram Sabha. The chief guest Mrs. Kiran Lohani spoke on how to revive the adivasi culture, women being the best to bring this change. Fr. Byron, too spoke on the importance of Adivasi culture. He said that one should not feel shy or feel small in acknowledging ones culture. Adivasi culture is rich and well recognized all over the world. All cultures are equal in the eyes of God. A turn out of Three hundred and Ninety Two people was seen for the day. Special prizes were given to all the groups by the chief guest.