NEWS

Krishnagar, 14 November 2025: A twelve-member delegation from the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) – six representatives from America and Canada and six from MCC India – visited Don Bosco Technical Institute, Krishnagar on 14th November 2025.

The team thoroughly inspected the institute’s infrastructure, laboratories, educational facilities, and job placement records. They also held direct interactions with students benefiting from MCC scholarships.

The visitors expressed deep satisfaction with the scholarship support and its visible impact. Following the tour and student feedback session, the delegation conveyed strong optimism for approving the institute’s upcoming fourth project.

Kolkata/New Delhi, 17 November 2025: At 80 years young, Rev. Fr. Scaria Nedumattathil SDB continues to add glorious chapters to a lifetime dedicated to the forgotten and the fallen.

The All India Council of Human Rights, Liberties and Social Justice (AICHLS) has unanimously selected him for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for Prison Reforms with Compassion — the latest in a long line of national and international recognitions for the Founder Director of Don Bosco Prison Ministry (DBPM).

This new honour joins an already illustrious list:

• 2015: Salesian Rector Major Paschal Chávez Award for Innovative Ministry (global Salesian recognition)
• 2022: Felicitated during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Kolkata
• 2025: Nominated for Lifetime Achievement Award for Prison Reforms with Compassion

What began in 1995 with a single visit to Berhampore Central Correctional Home has, under Fr. Scaria’s quiet yet unstoppable leadership, grown into one of India’s most powerful movements of mercy:

• Vocational training centres inside prisons
• World’s first government-recognized motor driving school within prison walls
• Legal aid, counselling, and post-release rehabilitation that has restored thousands of lives across West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar

Even today, from the Human Resource Development Centre at Dhobasole, West Midnapore — an area once torn by militancy — Fr. Scaria continues to build hope, educate children, and prove that no land or heart is beyond redemption.

The award will be conferred on 10 December 2025 at the 15th International Human Rights Summit & Awards at India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, on International Human Rights Day.

Siliguri, 16 November 2025 — The second day of Rozgar Mela 2.0 at Salesian College Siliguri unfolded as a landmark in the institution’s journey of linking education with opportunity. The presence of West Bengal Governor Dr. C.V. Anand Bose lent both dignity and momentum to the initiative, as he personally handed over job appointment letters to selected candidates. The event was organized by the Darjeeling Welfare Society under the leadership of its President and Rajya Sabha Member Harsh Vardhan Shringla, in collaboration with Salesian College. 

The programme was graced by the distinguished presence of Jalpaiguri MP Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy and Bagdogra MLA Anandamay Barman, alongside the Governor, affirming their collective commitment to youth empowerment and regional development. The scale of the Rozgar Mela was unprecedented: over 2,100 young people received their job letters from some 60 companies that turned up to recruit. This remarkable outcome demonstrated the tangible impact of collaboration between educational institutions, civil society, and industry partners. 

In his address, Governor Bose hailed the Rozgar Mela as “a timely bridge between education and opportunity,” urging young graduates to embrace skill, resilience, and ethical values as the cornerstones of their professional journey.  

Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration, noting that initiatives like Rozgar Mela 2.0 ensure that the aspirations of young people are met with real opportunities. 

Speaking on behalf of the college, Principal Dr. Fr. Babu Joseph remarked: “Rozgar Mela 2.0 is not just about placements; it is about instilling confidence in our youth that their education has meaning and direction. We are proud to partner with civil society and government leaders in creating pathways that transform lives.” 

For Salesian College, the Governor’s visit was both an endorsement and an inspiration. It reaffirmed the institution’s mission to empower students not only with knowledge but with opportunities that transform lives. As Rozgar Mela 2.0 concluded its second day, the campus resonated with pride and purpose—education, values, and opportunity converging to shape a brighter tomorrow.

Siliguri, 15 November 2025: Salesian College (Autonomous) Siliguri today hosted the inauguration of Rozgar Mela 2.0, a two-day employment and skills fair that seeks to empower the youth of North Bengal and the Northeast with opportunities for career advancement and skill development.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Darjeeling Welfare Society (DWS) under the leadership of Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Founder-President of DWS. Building on the success of Rozgar Mela 1.0 held in Darjeeling in November 2023, this second edition expands its reach to Siliguri, a strategic hub for education and commerce.
In his inaugural address, Shri Shringla emphasized the importance of creating bridges between employers and job seekers, highlighting the role of such platforms in fostering regional development. The Mela is designed to cover a population base of over two crores, with a literacy rate above 75 percent, ensuring large-scale participation from educated youth.
Rozgar Mela 2.0 was publicly notified on 17 September 2025, coinciding with the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring the national commitment to youth empowerment and employment generation.
The Mela is expected to serve not only as an employment drive but also as a celebration of youth potential, regional collaboration, and institutional partnership.
The two-day fair continues until 16 November 2025, offering a vibrant platform for aspirants to connect with employers, explore skill-building programs, and chart pathways into meaningful work.
- SCSC Correspondent

Kolkata, November 7 — The Don Bosco Alumni Association Kolkata is emerging as a powerful model for community outreach and social service, driven by the collective goodwill of its past pupils. Led by President Mr. Vikash Kumar Choraria and Secretary Mr. Manishankar Das, the association has significantly scaled its efforts to serve the marginalized and strengthen the global Bosco fraternity.

Among its key initiatives is Bosco on Wheels, a bi-monthly flagship program where a mobile food van distributes approximately 400 freshly prepared meals, including over 2,000 rotis, to beneficiaries at hospitals and settlement camps. Members personally serve the needy, addressing hunger among the poor.

The unit also addresses medical needs through Bosco Cares, a monthly full-scale clinic held at the school premises. Managed by alumni doctors, the clinic provides free consultations, medicines, and discounted diagnostics to over 100 patients monthly.

Beyond local service, the association fosters global and professional collaboration. DB Global connects past pupils through 16 active chapters worldwide, while Bosco Connects offers mutual assistance, providing support across various fields including employment, business guidance, academic help, and crisis intervention.

The alumni unit also continues its longstanding commitment to community outreach, which includes the 27-year-old Adult Literacy Project empowering underprivileged young women with education and vocational skills. This is complemented by regular Blood Donation Camps and specialized Free Eye and Osteoporosis Camps, which provide free check-ups and surgeries for the economically disadvantaged.

The Don Bosco Alumni Association Kolkata demonstrates how organized effort and collective goodwill can translate into sustained and meaningful social change.
- Rajesh Gupta, Former Vice President of Don Bosco Alumni, International