Birbhum district is considered the homeland of Santhals, and in social development and education it lags behind other areas. To meet the need for the development of the Santhals, Cardinal Picachy, Archbishop of Calcutta, requested the Salesians in 1979, to open a centre there In 1981, Fr. Cyriac Manianchira succeeded in purchasing a small plot of land and building in Suri, the district headquarters. But the first institution, a boarding, was started in Joypur, a much interior place, in 1983. A new boarding for girls was started in 1985. Don Bosco Joypur was raised to the status of a quasi-parish in April 1991 and given to the Salesians in perpetuity. 

When the diocese of Asansol was established in 1997 Suri came under it. Today, Don Bosco, Joypur, consists of a parish and a boarding with nearly 450 boys and girls. The girls' boarding is looked after by the CTC Sisters. The children of the boarding attend the neighbouring government schools. Besides pastoral care of the people in 210 villages and 36 sub-centres, the community also undertakes village outreach programmes, developmental programmes through educational scholarships and assistance in house building.