In a humble effort to empower rural women, Centre for Social Outreach (CSE), a unit of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) in association with Seva Kendra, Kolkata started a 10-day workshop on tailoring from June 12, 2023 in the university campus.

This workshop aims to promote the economic condition of rural women from the neighbouring villages through imparting hands on training on tailoring. It would continue upto June 23, 2023.

While inaugurating the programme, Father John Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor of SXUK said, “This is one of the many programmes we plan to conduct. A university as a temple of knowledge must always be in touch with neighbouring villages. 15 sewing machines will be handed over to the participating women after they complete the training programme.” He further added, “Such workshop will continue for the women of the nearby villages.

Experienced trainers from Seva Kendra would conduct the workshop. All the participants will receive a training completion certificate. SXUK has a plan to set up a vocational training centre for the rural women in the second phase.

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) sponsored the project as a part of their CSR initiative. Fr. Anthony Rodrigues, Director, Seva Kendra and Mr. Subhasish De, Regional Manager, WBSEDCL were present in the inaugural programme.

Thanks to Mr. Sukhendu Bank, Coordinator, CSE, SXUK and student volunteers for their active and efficient organisation of the programme.

Dr. Somak Sen