by Father Briston Britto for BISMumbai

As if the pandemic situation was not enough, cyclone Nisarga uprooted some trees and left the others broken at Rasquinha Don Bosco Technical Centre [RDBTC], Chakan. The institute has remained shut for the last 06 months with calm before the storm and frenzied activity after. In order to put Chakan on wheels, the fallen trees were cleared, the roof was temporarily repaired, the excess water drained, sweeping, dusting, weeding, sawing and new spokes were inserted in the wheel to get the cart moving [chakavar Chakan].

Communication with the 21 technical students was resumed by the 03 instructors, with online instructions from time-to-time became the norm to keep abreast with the academics. Most of these students come from the villages of Latur and Osmanabad districts with the exception of 04 girls from Chakan and a sole person from Pune.

Established in 2014, Rasquinha Don Bosco Technical Centre [RDBTC], Chakan was a gift from the Rasquinha family to the Mumbai Salesians. Anthony Rasquinha of happy memory was instrumental in having the present technical setup; while the hostel building was set up through the assistance of Knorr Bremse Global Care. Relationship with the mother house Don Bosco Vyawasaik Prashikshan Kendra [DBVPK], Chinchwad, continues to grow as the 02 centres are collaborating closely with the Recovery Assistance Plan [RAP].

RDBTC is a budding institution that offers hope to reach out to the young people from the rural areas. Though times are hard and difficult, yet like their mentor and guide Don Bosco, the institute hopes to generate good will in the locality.