by Father Briston Britto for BISMumbai

To get the cart - Rasquinha Don Bosco Technical Centre, Chakan - moving, is a tedious and tough task. RDBTC, an autonomous institution managed by the MumbaiSalesians, offers a 6-months Computerized Numerical Control [CNC]-cum-Machinist course, aimed at skilling the rural young. It has a well-equipped CNC simulation lab and machinery for training and production.

Mobilization of students from various villages, training and placements thereafter to some of the reputed companies in and around Chakan forms an integral package of the course. Mobilization has not been an easy process. Even with prior consent from the gram-sevaks, visits to the villages are not always successful. There are those who are receptive, while others raise doubts or display lukewarm indifference, while a few reject the offer outright.

Feasibility study during these days of lockdown and visits to other government and private technical institutions which offer similar courses within a radius of 20 kilometres reveal that RDBTC has the capacity to become a Training Providing Institution. Meanwhile, the entrepreneurs who collaborate with RDBTC for job placement are open to ‘grease the wheels of cart, to set it in motion', for "when the going gets tough, the tough get going."