Don Bosco Presence in Dumka Diocese

3rd AUGUST, DUMKA: The Salesian Province of Kolkata started a new presence in Dumka diocese marking 150th Anniversary of the foundation of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The St. Joseph’s Vocational Training Institute, an 8-year old diocesan undertaking, is located close to Dumka Bishop’s House on Dumka - Bhagalpur Road. Currently two Salesians (Fr. Alexander Topno and Br. T.V. Johny) offer 11 trades for immediate skills training and job placement of school dropouts. In the first batch there are 68 students and 17 staff including part-time and full-time instructors and non-teaching staff.

“It is after a long waiting that Salesians are able to come to Dumka to train young people of the diocese towards employment,” said the Province Mission Delegate and Rector of Don Bosco Joypur Fr. T.T. Sebastian during his inaugural address of the new academic year. “In the school we have teachers but in a Vocational Training Centre we have instructors who not only teach but also demonstrate what is being taught,” said the Assistant Principal Br. T.V. Johny, the pioneer of DB Kalimpong Vocational Training Institute. “Two of the most popular trades among the first batch of boys are Driving and Motor Mechanics,” says the principal Fr. Alexander Topno. He is hopeful of empowering young women through Computer Application, Office Management, Secretarial Course and Tailoring. After the hour-long inaugural programme with prayer and patriotic songs and speeches, the students and instructors went to their respective classrooms.