Media Release

Mangalore, Dec 13: J J V Fernandes, founder and popular chairman of the XET was felicitated on December 13 as he will be completing 75 years on December 15.

In the year 1984, he had a vision of starting an Industrial training centre for the poor, unprivileged, neglected and marginalized youth of the Community.

J J V Fernandes, a legal practitioner and a small scale Industrialist had a vision of coming to the aid of the poor youth of rural areas.

Though, he himself was under great financial stress and strain, had always a burning desire to do selfless service for the suffering humanity.  He always had a strong feeling that instead of doling out charity to the poor, 'it is better to give them a hook & teach them to fish'.

Though, it was an uphill task for him to take up this venture, he was bent upon establishing a small unit at a poultry shed at The Mukka Welfare Society within Suratkal limits.

On December 3 1984, Xavier Industrial Institute was inaugurated with JJV Fernandes as chairman, Oswald Kamath as secretary & F M Lobo as treasurer. Fr Stany Miranda , former rector of St Joseph Seminary and later director of Fatima Retreat House always gave his whole-hearted support and encouragement right from the start.

In the year 1992, the Karnataka Jesuit Society, came forward with 4.38 acres of land on lease at Assaigoli, Konaje, wherein new buildings, Workshops, canteen, hostel building, open air stage, administrative building were put up with the generous donations from benefactors and well wishers. Hundreds of students have passed out from the Xavier Industrial Training Centre (XITC), Assaigoli & have been working in MNC’s namely MRPL, ISRO, MICO, HMT etc. etc.

It will be 30 years on December 3 2014 and there is a proposal to celebrate this happy occasion. It was the three lay leaders as mentioned earlier who came up with a capital of Rs.  3,000/- to start the project without any profit motive to render honorary services to the poor and downtrodden members of the Society.

J J V hails from Kapikad, Bejai, Mangalore. He completed his early education in St Aloysius College. He is an advocate by profession, has worked as a labour relations officer in Syndicate Bank Ltd. H O  Manipal. Later he worked as a labour consultant.

He established Canara Chemical Industries, a SSI unit at Baikampady. He was also a successful builder. At present he is a Notary Public and a  registrar of Marriages.

He is married and living at Kapikad, Bejai with his wife Renee. His son Joel is an engineer and married with two daughters Mayola and Andria who are also married.

For the last 3 decades, J J V has been striving very hard to manage, nurture and bring this institute to the present status. The mighty  buildings, the open air stage, the Workshops, Canteen, Hostel building, sophisticated tools and equipments, well laid gardens and the bubbling activity at the campus is a living memory to the vision, far-sight, imagination and hard work of J J V.

During the initial stages, there were many hurdles and obstacles in managing the affairs of the XET & XITC and it is J J V who used to come daily to the Office of XET situated at the Catholic Club presently called as Catholic Centre and give necessary directions to the staff & students. The dedicated, devoted and selfless services of the honorary Trustees, Principal and staff  will be remembered.

J J V has been termed as a hard task master and a perfectionist to the core, a true gentleman and a good human being.