St. Xavier’s Industrial Training Institute, Khanapur

The History

St. Xavier’s ITI was started as an outcome of the Jesuit General Congregation 32 (between 1974 and 1975), which gave the first impetus through its decree on “The Preferential Option for the Poor”. In line with the decree, the Jesuits of the Goa Province who had begun noticing an increasing number of rural youth dropping out of school, decided to start a non-formal technical institute to cater to these dropouts. The new initiative had its humble beginnings as St. Paul’s Non-Formal Technical Training Institute, and was based out of St. Paul’s High School, Belgaum.

With Br. Benancio Carvalho SJ as its first director, the institute started out with 15 boys, and provided a multi-faceted technical training that enabled them to get jobs in surrounding industries.

The Vision and Mission

Rural students unfortunately have lesser access to good education, and it has always been a Jesuit vision to provide them with access to better opportunities. The technical institute was established on these lines, especially for the school dropouts (SSLC failed students), who were almost always from rural backgrounds.

The management saw that these students do not get into any other institute and often lose out on an opportunity of a better life. It became the mission of the ITI to take in these students, train them with various skills, and make them responsible individuals of society. By the time they passed out of the institute, the students were well skilled and got employed quickly in the industrial belt around Belagavi, Goa, Mumbai, Pune, and other parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

The Aim

The institute strives to take part in the task of nation-building by forming skilled, disciplined, responsible and honest citizens – to be able to contribute to the industrial world.

St. Xavier’s ITI exposes students to real work life and equips them with necessary skills so that they would be job ready when they graduate.

Moving to Khanapur

As time passed and numbers grew, the need for a bigger place was felt. A survey was done to find out a suitable place to shift the institute to, and Khanapur became the ideal option. Being much closer to the rural areas, and with a big campus, the new location would be able to cater to more students. Furthermore, any thoughts of expansion would also be easily met if required since Khanapur was a small town central to the rural belts around (Gunji, Manshapur, Harsanwadi, Nittur, Desur, Bargaon, Nandgad).

And so began the construction of St. Xavier’s Technical and Community College at Khanapur. Br. Thomas D’Souza SJ came to the institute in 1997, when the building was still in its nascent stages. He started the technical institute in full swing with three courses: Fitter, Electrician and Turner. Other courses also followed like Tailoring, Fashion-Design, Nursery Teachers Training, etc. All these courses were focussed especially on rural youth from the surrounding areas.

The New Christening

As time passed, Industrial norms got stricter and the Government started focusing on a more formal technical training. Hence the need for starting a formal course was felt and in 2005, St. Xavier’s Industrial Training Institute was started by the Grammena Yuva Abhivrudh Sangh (GYAS) (Registered under the Karnataka Registration of Society’s Act 1960 bearing Reg. No. 496/04-05), with Br. Thomas D’Souza SJ as its Principal. St. Xavier’s ITI got affiliated to the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) in 2006-07 and hence opened a broader horizon for job prospects all over India and also abroad. Here, two mainstream courses were offered: Fitter and Electrician.

Recently in 2019, Br. Thomas D’Souza SJ retired and St Xavier’s ITI got a new Principal – Fr. Shawn D’Souza SJ. Being young and dynamic, he has taken on the challenge and legacy of St. Xavier’s ITI to skill the underprivileged and poor students. In keeping with the Universal Apostolic Preference (UAP) “To collaborate in the care of our Common Home,” he has recently started a Solar Technician Course in addition to the other two courses. This course imbibes students with a futuristic and environmental friendly approach to technology.

St. Xavier’s ITI has seen many students pass out from its portals – all with smiling faces, an ITI certificate and a job in the hand! St. Xavier’s ITI has truly started a vibe of skilled industrial workforce that is appreciated in India and maybe also abroad!

Courses Offered

Electrician (Affiliated to National Council for Vocational Training)
Fitter (Affiliated to National Council for Vocational Training)
Solar Technician (Sertified by SELCO Pvt. Ltd)

Fr. Shawn D’Souza SJ

St. Xavier’s Industrial Training Institute
Shivajinagar, Khanapur, Belgaum – 591 302
Phone: +91 8669773504; +91 7624959255
E-mail: pplxavieritikhanapur@gmail.com