Students of the Human Resource Management (HRM) programme of Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, toured villages in the Bariatu and Angara blocks of Ranchi and interacted with the local people between March 3 and March 12.
Two groups of 36 students each joined the eight-day Rural Retreat Camp and spent time at Jaratoli, Jiddu and Barwadag revenue villages.
The rural camp, an integral part of the HRM programme, is aimed at creating an opportunity for students to have a better experience of community life and improve their professional know-how.
A valedictory programme was held at Fr Michael Van den Bogaert, SJ Memorial Auditorium, on the XISS campus to felicitate the students for their active participation. Awards were given for best team player, special achievement as a team leader and best achievement as best camper.
XISS director Joseph Marianus Kujur, HRM professor Fr Xavier Soreng and assistant director Pradeep Kerketta were present at the programme.
Professor and coordinator of the rural camp, Shyamal Gomes, presided over the function, where he presented a report and shared his experience of the camp. A poster exhibition of the village map drawn during the visit was displayed by the students.
The best camper male and female was awarded to
Oliver Minz, Navneet Singh, Arpan Anurag Kandir and Ranu Jhawar were declared the best campers.
Prizes and certificates were handed over for different activities conducted during the camp by Ramakant Agrawal, head of HRM programme.
“We need to de-learn whatever biases we have learnt in order to be open to new learnings,” XISS director Kujur said. He stressed the need to understand of the collective consciousness of the village people and the importance of relationships.
Kerketta underlined the importance of taking up challenges. “The best leader is one who serves others and assesses success based on service to others,” he said.