PROCHESTA – INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Rev. Pratap Kumar Nayak: The 63rd’ Independence Day was celebrated at Presbyter Vicarage, Asansol at 7.45 am Rev. Pratap Kumar nayak hoisted the national Flag with the presence of St. Peter’s School students, teachers, staff, Parents, St. Paul’s Churches Congregation and Prochesta Students.

Rev. P.K.Nayak in his speech reminded the duties and obligation of the day for the country and requested to pray for the future of the country to protect from various kinds of diseases like Swine-Flue and from the calamities, AILA and drought in the country.

On the eve of Independence Day all the Prochesta students were distributed uniforms. We are grateful to the Bishop and to the Principal of the St. Peter School, Mr. D. Thomas for the permission and necessary cooperation.

New Clinic for Durgapur Child Study and Development Centre

Rita Dutta: Durgapur Child Study and Development Centre is growing everyday. It started of in the Portico of the Diocesan Bhawan and later with the help of the Companion Diocese, Diocese of Western North Carolina build a school building and a hostel for slum children.

There is a need for good health among children and keeping this in mind Rev. John Rice Reactor of Good Shepherd Church raised money for a clinic. When the Bishop of Diocese of Durgapur visited Good Shepherd Church, the congregation members gave generously and the amount crossed the target what was fixed.

The work of the clinic has started and hopefully by January 2010 we can open the clinic. There will and have a trained full time Nurse and a weekly Doctor who will check the children of centre also their parents. They will also look at anybody who is poor in Durgapur.

Sandipan Sinha :- The Project Committee of Women Fellowship For Christian Service organized a one day training programme for all the teachers of the centre namely Durgapur Child Development and Study Centre, Durgapur, Prochesta Asansol, Inter faith Community Study Centre, Bankura And Community Study Centre, Purulia on Sunday 16th August 2009.
During the training programme our Respected Bishop The Rt. Rev. Dr. Probal Kanto Dutta asked the teacher to share two questions; One Why am I in this programme? Secondly what are my experiences? Each teacher shared their views like some said ‘ They feel that they are part of a larger family’, some said that ‘ Their concept of service has changed etc.
Mr. K. N. Das the fascinator of the programme helped the group to workout a common objective for the centres. He further explained what are the duties of the teachers and also share the responsibility of the parent. At the end of the programme each teacher was rejuvilened and work out the plan of action.

Teacher’s Training Programme of Community Development Programme, Sarenga

Bunty: A two day Teacher’s/ Animator’s Training Programme was organized by the Community Development Programme, Sarenga on the 4th and 5th of August 2009 at Shanti Griha, Durgapur. 15 teachers from all the focus villages under the programme joined in the curriculum which was aimed to prepare the teachers not only in education but education related to development.
The training started with an induction ceremony in which the opening word of prayer was offered by the Rev. Swagata Das. The Bishop and Chairman of the Community Development Programme Sarenga, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Probal Kanto Dutta, in his key note introductory address emphasized that the education that the programme is imparting to the children is very much different from the formal schools that they are going to. He further stressed that the auxiliary education imparted to the children are in vision of a holistic developed community in the future and that the teachers should not act as simple teachers but as changing agents bringing about a total development to the lives of the children they touch.
The first day sessions were taken by Mr. K. N. Das, Coordinator of three programmes under the Diocese of Durgapur. In the first half Mr. Das trained the partakers about Societal Education and its related values that are to be implanted in the children of the centres. Participants, divided into groups, were asked to discuss among themselves and bring out the possible teachings that are to be instill in the children regarding Education, Health, Native Tradition, Language, Attire/ Dressing, Food Habits, Social Values and above all to identify the characteristics of each individual child. It was inspirational to see that the teachers themselves found out the teachings that they would be imparting to the children of the focus values. The second half of the day saw the participants being trained on the duties and responsibilities on the part of the Teachers, Parents as well as the Children also. This half was aimed towards increasing the interest among the children and consciousness among parents towards education which will ultimately relate to their development.
The second day sessions were facilitated by Mr. Sushil Sharma, Director of the Ecumenical Social Industrial Institute. He resourced the trainees on addressing the challenges and opportunities in rural education – changing threats to opportunities and weakness to strength. This session was especially useful to the participants as they do face quite a couple of challenges, both social and economical, while educating the children of the children and connecting with the people of the village. Further Mr. Sharma took a session on capacity building, which is another very important factor in rural education; because according to Mr. Sharma no development can be possible if the teachers do not enhance their personal capacities and well as the societal and organizational capacities.
To conclude the training programme the participants were appealed for their personal feedback, which to the contentment of the Programme Officials was very satisfactory, because, they have expressed their eagerness to partake in more analogous, educative, modern and extensive scaled working out curriculum. The Programme sincerely hopes that this training will further augment the inner aptitude of the teachers who are acting as transfigure instrument for the future of the politically disturbed, deficient villages in and around the block of Sarenga.

Land Donated to Diocese

Rev.R.C.Kisku :- On 14th July, 2009 in a function at Soglepara , Smt. Mungli Tudu and Sri Lakshman Tudu jointly donated a piece of land measuring 5 Cottahs in the name of Durgapur Diocesan Trust Association. The number of believers in Soglepara congregation is increasing gradually. Earlier there were only 3 families and now it has increased to 12 families. The believers of Soglepara congregation are very conscious of the Sunday Worship and also for any prayer meeting. Not a single man or woman is absenting from the Sunday Worship. All are coming to Church for which we need to praise and thank God, children and adult, join in the singing of hymn in the Church and each bring offerings for the Lord. In the Kochpara Pastorate, there are eight congregations, but only the Soglepara congregation is seen very consious and careful in church matters. Two members of this congregation have willingly donated the land for a church building. the Lord for the new assets of the Diocese increasing gradually in the Pastorate.

Manju Tudu's Testimony

I had two mothers in my home. One of them died due to a injury in the leg which got septic. I don’t have my father, neither do I have brothers or sisters. I used to stay back at home and study in the Anganwadi (ICDS) School while my mothers went in search of work as daily labourers. Our house is a broken down. Many wicked people used to enter my house. My mother used to say no when they offered some money to take me away. I come to the Durgapur Child Study and Development Centre for nearly three to four years, Madam (Mrs. Rita Dutta) used to inquire about my house many times and I used to tell her all that used to happen. Seeing my condition and she built a hostel for us where I stay now and from where I go to school daily. I am now in the sixth standard of the local Government Sponsored Girl’s High School. The hostel I stay in is very good and they take very good care of me.
Last Saturday (25th July), I and my Miss Kaviraj boarded a Eureka Bus and went to Kolkata to go to Delhi. Taking a taxi from the bus stand we headed towards the airport. After the people in the airport checked all our things we boarded the bus to take us to the aircraft. I was thinking I must be dreaming when in the bus and when I was climbing up the stairs to board the plane I was feeling like I was entering heaven. How the two hours went past from Kolkata to Delhi, I cannot express in words. On reaching Delhi we were welcomed by Sulakshna Miss from the YMCA, who took us to their hostel where the programme was to be held. I enjoyed every moment of the programme I attended. I made many new friends and we all participated in a drama that we enacted on stage. I felt a bit nervous and afraid when I was told to speak in the programme. After getting through all those, I told the audience about me and my centre, my hostel, its teachers and my friends here in Durgapur. After I had finished telling them everything everyone was praising me and I was feeling so proud that I am a part of the Durgapur Centre.
When returning back we shared our love and I was also feeling sad that I had to leave so many friends that I had made. I could not believe myself that I would, one day in my life, join others in such a huge meeting. I am very thankful to my Madam and Bishop Sir for sending me and making a dream of my lifetime come true.

Purulia Rickshaw Project

sandipan Sinha :-In the year 2007 the Diocese of Durgapur had launched a programme for rickshaw pullers who are socially and economically deprived class of the society. The objective behind this programme was to bring a dignity to their profession and improve their standard of living. Under this programme, the Rickshaw Pullers were provided with Rickshaws donated by the Diocese. Generally, the rickshaw pullers do not have their own rickshaws and they rent the rickshaws which results in a large chunk of their income going to the rickshaw contractors. Thus, they cannot lead a comfortable life despite the hard work put in by them and perennially trapped in debt.
Out of the depth of time we can recognize the pursuit of happiness in the faces of those who were taken into project by giving them rickshaws. One such case we can observe in Purulia Rickshaw Project. Mr. Kishor Karmakar, age 29 is the one, to whom one of the Rickshaw was given. It’s a long time that he is using it and not only the fact that he has got a rickshaw from the Diocese, driving it to sustain his daily life but the real scenario is something else. The Blessing through which we have started the rickshaw project in the Diocese can be seen in his face and life too. His spiritual and intellectual life has got a U turn. when I met him in the purulia Community Study Centre I was really forced to think that how can God change the life of a person through various means. Before he joined the project his life was quite like the other people, suffering, pain, tension for the money etc. but now he is different than the others as God Almighty has given him the opportunity to serve the people by driving the passenger to their destiny in his rickshaw. His wife Mrs. Sujala Karmakar and son Nobin Karmakar who is one of the student of the centre are living in peace and prospering in daily life. Now they don’t have to think about money, food, clothe etc because it’s plenty and they are enjoying the Blessing Of The Heaven. Everyday he is earning more than Rs.70 which is much higher than the other rickshaw puller and out of his daily income only Rs.5 he summits in the Purulia community study centre. Even the centre is thinking to open a separate bank account for the rickshaw project. “I have changed, I am happy” all the words I can hear from him throughout my stay with him. This is the just the beginning and the world will see, the progress will never stop.

Tree Plantation Festival in Mission Girls High School Bankura

Mr. A.K.Roba: The School Management Committee of the Missions Girl’s High school, Bankura headed by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Probal Kanto Dutta, Bishop is very proud OF the academic result, FOR the year 2008-2009. The school has been honored of with ranks in class. X and XII Board Examination of West Bengal. On behalf of the Diocese of Durgapur as a secretary of the school I express our heart-felt thanks to our Headmistress, Mrs. Abijita Chowdhury and all the teachers for their hard work.

The school does not only provide academic education but they are also made very aware o the social environment. This year Govt. of West Bengal declared “Tree Plantation festival Week” from 14th’July 2009 to 22nd’ July 2009. Mr. Ajita Mishra, vill- Rampur, Mishrapara, Bankura, who donated a “Mahogany Tree” a very costly tree.. Mr. Mishra very carefully planted the tree from an earthen Tub. He used special fertilizer for this tree so that the tree can grow up easily. After a few years it will grow about 12 feet with many brunches. This very has been planted in a proper place in the compound of the Mission Girl’s High School, where an old Mahogany tree over 100 years old fallen down by a storm. The plantation programme was observed in a meaningful way. Mr. Mishra stated that he was satisfied to donate tree as he feels that the Mission Girls High School was the proper place to care nature the tree to grow like the students of the school. We feel this as a reward of goodwill to the school.

Celebration of Vanomaohatsav ( Tree Plantation):

Ms. Gargee Seth : In the State of West Bengal Vanmahotshab was celebrated from 14th’ – 20th’ July. At St. Michael’s School Bankura , the staff & students celebrated Vanmahotshav on 22nd July 2009. The programme was graced by the District magistrate of Bankura- Md. Gulam Ali Ansari, Divisional Forest Officer- Sudhir Chandra Das and Deputy Magistrate cum – Collector Debasis Karmamkar. The students honored the guests with floral bouquets. The morning assembly was conducted by Rev. Samuel Halder, Chaplin of the School. Our honorable guests actively participated in the plantation programme with the students of St. Michael’s School. Light refreshments were given to everyone at the end of the programme .

REVIVING E.S.I.I THROUGH DIOCESANS INITIATIVES

Mr. A.K.Roba: At the time of the Industrial Revolution in Durgapur, during the late fifties & early sixties the Ecumenical Social & Industrial Institute (E.S.I.I) was one of the pioneer Institutes in Durgapur imparting quality Industrial Education to all. Due to lack of proper leadership at the helm, for a period of eight years, the vision with which it was started by Rev. Keyon Wright and others has now been revived by the initiatives of the Rt. Revd. Dr. Probal Kanto Dutta, Bishop of Durgapur Diocese, The Rt. Revd. Ashoke Biswas , Bishop of Kolkata Diocese, the Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary, CNI- Synod and Mr. Sudipta Singh, Programme Director, CNI- Synod. The Board of Governors has appointed Mr. Sushil Sharma as the resident Director. Mr. Sharma has a Master in Social Work with 22 years of experience working with CASA. A Board has been constituted and we feel that the Board will evoke and realize the Vision, Mission and the past Glory of E.S.I.I.

CELEBRATION OF FOUNDATION DAY OF M.C.D.C

Mr. Simon Uttam Singh: The Foundation Day of Mankar Child Development Centre was celebrated on 14th’ July 2009 at St. Luke’s Church Compound, Mankar. All children, staffs and teachers of the centre were taken part to celebrate the foundation day to make it successful, The programme was started with word of prayer led by the Revd. Swagata Das, Presbyter, thanking God for His many blessing showed upon the for past five years. She also prayed for God’s wisdom and guidance for the future growth of the Project and the Glory of the God’s Kingdom. A group of children of the Centre were sang opening song and performed dance including Cultural programme. After the programme Rev.(Mrs.) Swagata Das celebratede the Foundation Cake and distributed amongst the students. She also hosted the flag of the M.C.D.C Mr. A.K.Roba, Project Director attended the programme and in the mark of the 5th’ years of completion of the Project he inaugurated the “ MINI GYMNASTIC UNIT” for use of the children of the Centre. He also expressed in his speech that beside the education physical strength is needed for the student. Physical exercise is a part of the education. The foundation Day was celebrated very well organized followed by the Special Lunch for the students.