After St Xavier’s College (autonomous) Kolkata donated Rs 10 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Amphan Relief Fund, St Xavier’s College (Calcutta) Alumni Association has decided to adopt a village in Kakdwip in the Sunderbans which has been severely affected by the recent cyclone.
Fr Dominic Savio, the principal of St Xavier’s College (autonomous) Kolkata and president of the Alumni Association said, “The alumni had earlier adopted a village named Bholakhali in North 24 Parganas after Aila. This time, it is a village in the South 24 Parganas which has been devastated by the recent cyclone Amphan. It is our human responsibility to respond with all the care we may extend. Our spiritual service to the Lord beckons us to reach out.”
On Sunday, while flagging off the third successive consignment of relief materials which was to be distributed among the affected, Savio said, “By providing relief materials, like ration and other essentials, meant for 500 families, the college and its alumni will establish a lasting connection that will go beyond this immediate assistance. A village in the Kakdwip area will be identified in consultation with the local authorities.”
The college and alumni will also conduct a thorough socio-economic survey of the village and design a plan of action, putting a priority on education, healthcare and skill-development training. Savio emphasized that this will be “amalgamated into the existing college-to-village and village-to-college project”.
“We celebrate the recent recognition received from MHRD in NIRF by sharing our concern for the marginalized and the downtrodden in the remote rural areas, people who have been rendered homeless and dismayed by the cyclone that has hit us.”
The project will also address the environmental issues in the area.
Source:Times of India
