Report by Praveen Tauro Kulshekar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RD/SP)
Mangalore, Jul 8: Xavier Industrial Training Centre (XITC), Asaigoli, near Konaje, here, lies at the threshold of celebrating its silver jubilee by the end of December. The silver jubilee year was declared on February 15 and many programmes have been lined up on this occasion, culminating into a grand celebration in December this year. The centre is being managed by Xavier Educational Trust under Catholic Centre, here.
Xavier Educational Trust (XET) was founded on the day of St Francis Xavier’s feast on December 3 1984, with an initial contribution of just a few thousands of rupees. It began its earliest educational mission at Mukka, near Suratkal, here and later shifted to a spacious premises spread on a four-acre plot at Asaigoli, near Konaje in the year 1994. City-based Society of Jesus (SJ) congregation extended its support and assistance in this endeavour. Community veterans and philanthropists Peter Mathias, Eric Mathias, Aubrey D’Souza, Ronald Colaco, Victor Pais and Leo Quadros contributed their mite towards the construction of building blocks and related facilities.
XITC conducts vocational courses of two-year duration in electrician, electronic mechanic, mechanic refrigeration and air-conditioning fields, besides one-year courses in diesel mechanic and welder, which are recognized by the state department of employment and training, besides National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT), union ministry of labour and employment.
The fact that XET has been involved in the yeomen service of training the less fortunate community youth in vocational courses, in order to help them to find a means of livelihood and to take up self employment since 1984, is of added significance.
XET is being managed by chairman J J V Fernandes, secretary F M Lobo and treasurer Michael Mascarenhas, along with trustees H R T Saldanha, Dr Meera Aranha, Ian Lobo, Molly Kamath, Ashok Fernandes, Ronald Colaco and Fr Stany Miranda.
XET president J J V Fernandes, secretary F M Lobo, treasurer Michael Mascarenhas and principal Sudhir Kotian were present at the press conference.