By Matters India Reporter
Kolkata, April 21, 2020: St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata (SXUK) reached out to the neighborhood villages around the University where its students go for social outreach programmes and distributed food items – rice, dal, potatoes, and soybeans – to 300 families on April 19 and 20.
The University will continue the work as and when required in these villages.
Jesuits and students who are staying back in the hostels are involved in the distribution work at St. Francis Academy, Kathalberia village, adhering to COVID-19 protocol guidelines issued by the Government.
Earlier, SXUK joined hands with Snegam Social Welfare and Resource Society, an NGO and reached out to the people in need during these tiring times of pandemic.
The outreach distribution work of essential commodities started on March 28 and is being carried out till date.
On an average, 50 people were given relief materials enough for three days for a family in Thakurpukur and Haridevpur covering Wards 143 and 144. The beneficiaries include rickshaw pullers and daily wage-earners.
Upon receiving an SOS from Sundarbans through Genesis Hospital, Kolkata, Snegam and SXUK responded immediately and sent rice, dal, potatoes and salt for 300 families of tiger victim-widows in and around Amlamethi village in Sundarbans.
SXUK has extended its support to construction workers and migrant labourers through NKDA, at Rajarhat.
Jesuit Father J. Felix Raj, the Vice-Chancellor, is constantly in touch with the faculty, staff and students of the university with instructions and advisories.
Students of Xaverians in Action (XIA), an association of the University has also announced an online campaign for donations to express their solidarity to the neighborhood people.
SXUK has started counseling service as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Besides infecting people, COVID–19 disturbs the rhythm of daily life and also infects us with fear, anxiety, panicky and problems that we might consider inappropriate or abnormal under normal circumstances,” said Father Felix Raj.
“Precautionary measures like – lockdown, social distancing, isolation, quarantine, and also rumours that spread through WhatsApp and other social media cause us unnecessary mental ill-health and disturbances. We are particularly concerned about our students. Help and support are vital. People with mental health-related problems may contact the university counsellor,” he said.
SXUK has completed its admissions process to its MBA (Master of Business Administration) course for the 2020 academic session online because of the coronavirus outbreak. Group discussions, personal interviews and tests to screen aspiring students were held using various virtual platforms, Father Felix Raj added.
For every 50 applicants, a teacher had been assigned to oversee group discussions, interview sessions and online tests. The list of selected candidates on the basis of their performance has been announced on the University website. The new session of the two-year MBA course is scheduled to start in July.