57 students from rural communities receive certification at Jamshedpur campus
Jamshedpur, December 26: Reaffirming its enduring commitment to social transformation through education, XLRI Jamshedpur, through the Fr. McGrath Skill Development Centre (FM-SDC), hosted the Certification Ceremony of Batch 5 of its Skill Development Programme on Thursday at the XLRI campus.
A total of 57 students from rural and underserved communities across two Indian states were awarded certificates after completing intensive, practice-oriented training programmes. The batch comprised 43 participants in Computer Skills & Data Entry, 6 in Garment & Fashion Designing and 8 in Internship in Plumbing & Electrical Wiring. Several passed out students from previous batches are now gainfully employed in schools, private companies, government offices, while many have taken the entrepreneurial route underscoring the programme’s tangible impact on livelihoods.
Welcoming the gathering, the Convenor of the Centre, Dr. (Fr.) Donal D’Silva, SJ, highlighted the journey of the Xavier Community College (XCC), which has so far successfully trained 198 students across multiple batches, emphasizing that the initiative reflects XLRI’s mission to remain deeply connected with society. “This programme is not merely about certification but about dignity, confidence and creating pathways for a better life.”
The Director of XLRI, Dr. (Fr.) Sebastian George, SJ, congratulated the graduating students and stressed that skills, not just degrees, define employability today, encouraging participants to continuously upgrade themselves and pursue excellence in their chosen fields.
Addressing the gathering, Fr. Jerry Cutinha, SJ, Provincial, Superior of the Jesuits, reminded students that integrity must never be compromised in the pursuit of excellence, urging them to become responsible contributors to society.
Sharing the programme overview, Fr. Parvin Jose, SJ, Program Coordinator highlighted that XLRI sponsored and hosted the comprehensive training which also strengthened students’ confidence, communication skills and workplace readiness, enabling placements in government services, education, entrepreneurship and the construction sector.
In his concluding address, Prof. Sunil Kumar Sarangi, member of the centre inspired students by stating that “skill is the new currency”, encouraging them to remain anchored in values such as integrity, compassion, respect and service, while acknowledging the collective support that makes individual success possible.
The ceremony followed a structured academic protocol, including lamp lighting, certificate distribution, felicitation of dignitaries and a vibrant cultural programme presented by the students, celebrating their learning journeys and aspirations.
Through FM-SDC, XLRI continues to translate its legacy of academic excellence and human values into meaningful social impact transforming skills into self-reliance and hope into opportunity. It is a small but humble beginning of XLRI in making India a Viksit Bharat through skill development initiatives.
