Indian Salesians start renewable energy center

The Industry-Institute partnership initiative is undertaken by Don Bosco Technical School, Maligaon.

Addl. Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister of Assam, MGVK Bhanu

Guwahati:  Salesians in India’s north eastern state of Assam has started a centre for renewable energy, an Industry-Institute partnership initiative undertaken by Don Bosco Technical School, Maligaon.

"The center is the first of its kind in northeast India. It will act as a platform for integrated research on development, innovation, training and support primarily in the field of renewable energy technologies," said Fr. Benny Alex, the Director of the Don Bosco Institute in Maligaon.

The Addl. Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister of Assam, MGVK Bhanu, on May 26 inaugurated DBCREATE (Don Bosco Center for Renewable Energy, Advance Technologies & Entrepreneurship).

The MAIT (Manufacturers Association of Information Technologies) is the mentor partner for the Salesian initiative.

Various industry partners from different parts of country and abroad in the field of Renewable Energy & Advance Technologies are joining this premier venture in North East India. The initial industry partners include: VERTEX, NESSA, OLUMPUS Powers, ANIL Pumps, VERDATEC.

The inaugural ceremony saw the presence of leaders of the congregation, university professors, civil authorities and managers of the industry partners.

Bhanu in his inaugural speech stressed that it is through lot of interest and sincerity that one can bring about change and innovation in any field. He exhorted the 600 youth who gathered on the occasion to “get out” of all types of laziness and “get on” to hard work to achieve success in life.

"In addition to helping young people from the north eastern region to become entrepreneurs, the center will serve as a reference for large industries. Hopefully, over 5000 renewable energy skilled workforce for companies that operate in the field of renewable energy will be created in the next five years,"Father Alex added.

The geographical and geological challenges in North Eastern states make large power supply grids practically and economically unviable. Under such conditions, distributed energy or onsite energy generation and consumption model is seen as the alternative.

The presence of quality skilled manpower is very important to achieve such projects. Hence, DBCREATE aims to impart skill training in the renewable energy technologies to the youth of North Eastern region.

Don Bosco Maligaon is part of the DB Tech India network established in 1968 and is a partnered organisation with National Skill Development Corporation under the “skilling India” programme. It is also one of the centres for imparting skill training under the Employment Generation Mission, Assam, a registered society under Government of Assam.

Source: Don Bosco India