JCI Dapoli successfully organised an Individual Development Training Session on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at Padmashi Bhiku Ramji tatha Dadasaheb Idate Arts and Commerce Junior College, Kumbale, Mandangad. The initiative aimed at empowering students with essential life skills such as leadership, personality development, confidence building, and motivation.
The session was conducted by Zone Trainer JFD Kunal Mandlik, who engaged students through an interactive and insightful approach. A total of 119 students actively participated in the programme, showing enthusiasm and keen interest throughout the session. The training provided students with clarity on personal growth, goal setting, leadership qualities, and self-confidence, helping them better prepare for their academic and professional journeys.
Students responded positively to the session, appreciating the practical guidance and motivational insights shared. The programme aligned with JCI’s mission of nurturing young leaders and fostering holistic development among youth.
The session was smoothly coordinated and successfully executed, making it a meaningful and impactful initiative. JCI Dapoli expressed sincere gratitude to JFD Kunal Mandlik, the college authorities, and the participating students for their cooperation and support in making the programme a grand success. The event was organised under the leadership of JC Dr. Kunal Mehta, President; JC Roshan Vedak, Secretary; JC Swapneel Mehta, Project Director and Vice President – Training; and JC Rahul Rathod, Director – Training.
National Youth Day, celebrated every year on January 12, honours the potential of young minds to drive positive change. The theme for 2025, “Ignite the self, impact the world,” resonates strongly with Vedanta Sesa Goa’s sustained efforts in youth empowerment. Since 2018, the company has impacted over one lakh youth through initiatives spanning skilling, education, sports and digital learning.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Navin Jaju, CEO, Vedanta Sesa Goa, emphasised the organisation’s focus on enabling young minds through education and skill development. He highlighted that initiatives such as the Sesa Football Academy, Sesa Technical School, and digital education and scholarship programmes have played a critical role in building an empowered and enabled society, while contributing to the larger vision of a Viksit Bharat.
Among Vedanta Sesa Goa’s flagship initiatives is the Sesa Football Academy, which since 1999 has nurtured the footballing aspirations of over 8,000 players. More than 230 players have benefitted directly from its residential programme, with 14 players, including boys and girls, representing India at the international level. The Academy’s senior women’s team currently represents Goa at the Indian Women’s League, while the senior men’s team continues to perform strongly in the Goa Premier League.
Reflecting on this impact, Aaroshi Govekar, a player at the Sesa Football Academy and a recent selection for the Indian football team, described wearing the Indian jersey as a dream come true. She credited the Academy for providing not just training, but discipline, exposure and confidence to compete at the highest level.
Another cornerstone of Vedanta Sesa Goa’s youth development efforts is the Sesa Technical School, established in 1994. The institute has provided industry-ready technical training to over 2,000 youth, particularly from rural and mining belts of Goa. Affiliated with NCVT and ITI, the school offers courses across five trades and maintains a near 100 percent placement record, with graduates employed by leading organisations across sectors. Special focus is placed on encouraging girls through scholarships and dedicated training programmes.
Alumnus and entrepreneur Laxman Dalvi shared that the school gave him more than technical skills—it instilled confidence, discipline and direction, enabling him to build a self-reliant future.
Under Project Vriddhi, Vedanta Sesa Goa has also strengthened access to education and digital learning by establishing Vedanta Computer Centres and Labs across multiple states. Since 2018, these initiatives have benefitted over 80,000 students and youth, helping bridge the digital divide and build essential skills for the modern workforce.
Complementing these efforts is the Vedanta Utkarsh Scholarship Programme, which has supported over 1,300 students in pursuing higher education, with 50 percent of scholarships reserved for meritorious girls. Beneficiaries like Leela Parab from Mulgao credit the programme for helping them move closer to their aspirations and contribute positively to society.
Together, these initiatives embody the spirit of National Youth Day by equipping young people with skills, confidence and opportunities to shape their own futures. As Vedanta Sesa Goa continues its mission of transforming communities, youth empowerment remains at the heart of its journey toward inclusive and sustainable progress.
Reaffirming its commitment to education and youth empowerment, Vedanta Sesa Goa – Iron Ore Goa (IOG), under Project ‘Vriddhi’, organised the Vedanta ‘Utkarsh’ Scholarship Programme for the financial year 2025–26 at Bicholim. The initiative aims to support meritorious students from mining-affected and rural communities in pursuing higher education and building sustainable futures.
The programme, held at the Bicholim Municipality Hall, saw nearly 30 students from villages across Bicholim Taluka being felicitated and extended financial support through the Vedanta Utkarsh Scholarship. The event was graced by Ms. Shridevi B. V., IPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bicholim, along with Mr. Vijay Natekar, Chairperson of the Bicholim Municipal Council, Mr. Dhirajkumar Jagdish, Deputy CEO – Iron Ore Goa, and Mr. Santosh Mandrekar, Head Operations – North and Central Cluster.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Shridevi B. V., IPS, highlighted the transformative role of education, stating that when organisations invest in education, they contribute directly to nation-building. She noted that the Vedanta ‘Utkarsh’ Scholarship is a meaningful intervention that empowers students to rise above limitations and pursue their aspirations with confidence and discipline.
Mr. Vijay Natekar, Chairperson of the Bicholim Municipal Council, emphasised the importance of sustained educational support for community progress. He appreciated Vedanta Sesa Goa’s consistent community development efforts, noting that such initiatives create opportunities for deserving students while strengthening the region’s social fabric.
Reflecting on the programme’s impact, Mr. Dhirajkumar Jagdish, Deputy CEO – Iron Ore Goa, said education plays a critical role in transforming lives and communities. Through the Vedanta ‘Utkarsh’ Scholarship, he said, the company seeks to ensure that students from areas surrounding its operations receive the necessary support to pursue higher education, reinforcing Vedanta Sesa Goa’s commitment to meaningful and inclusive growth.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries, scholarship recipient Ms. Sadiya Choudhary, a B.Com student at Narayan Zantye College of Commerce, shared that the scholarship had significantly eased her financial burden. She noted that while she had been conducting tuition classes alongside her studies to support her education, the scholarship has allowed her to focus more fully on her academic goals and support her family.
To date, the Vedanta Utkarsh Scholarship has benefited over 1,200 students across Vedanta Sesa Goa’s operational areas. The company’s initiatives under Project ‘Vriddhi’ continue to reflect its long-term commitment to education, youth development and inclusive socio-economic progress within the communities it serves.
The GDP School for Social Entrepreneurship, Skill Building and Applied Social Research marked its first convocation at Borda College, Margao, with a packed auditorium and a high-energy format that placed outcomes above optics and enterprises above certificates. The event brought together graduating cohorts from the Borda, Vasco, and Quepem campuses in a celebration that redefined the traditional idea of a convocation.
Departing from convention, the convocation featured a swag-filled ramp walk where senior citizens, Self Help Groups, and rural youth confidently showcased market-ready products, service offerings, flyers, and enterprise packages. Developed through intensive practitioner-led mentoring and applied social research, the ramp transformed into a live marketplace of social innovation and enterprise readiness.
Stage 1 of the GDP School journey focused on stabilising three core pillars of enterprise building—product, process, and people. Participants underwent repeated cycles of market fitment, customer feedback, redesign, and validation, with a deliberate application of Blue Ocean Strategy to identify uncontested value propositions. The cohorts now advance into Stage 2, the Go-To-Market phase, which will focus on customer acquisition, partnerships, revenue models, and scaling.
The ramp walk was led by GDP School practitioners Deepakshi Mishra from the Quepem Campus, Kaushal Prabhudesai from the Vasco Campus, and Prasad Deshpande from the Borda Campus, who guided their respective cohorts through the showcase. The convocation was led by Chief Guest Mr. Kanjanabha Bhattacharyya, Managing Director of Putzmeister Concrete Machines Pvt. Ltd., who reinforced the importance of industrial rigor and execution discipline in building sustainable social enterprises.
The event saw the presence of a wide range of dignitaries from banking, industry, media, administration, and social development sectors, reflecting strong cross-sector endorsement for the initiative. The convocation also coincided with the birth anniversary of Late Shri Manoharbhai Parrikar, former Union Defence Minister and Chief Minister of Goa, and was envisioned as a tribute to his enduring legacy of institution-building, integrity, and inclusive development.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Kishore Shah, Managing Trustee of GDP Foundation, followed by live product displays and networking. The convocation marked not an end, but the formal market entry of community-rooted enterprises, reinforcing GDP School’s emergence as a pioneering platform where social purpose meets market discipline and learning translates into real, scalable impact.
The Social Impact Conclave Goa 2025, hosted by Voice Up and co-hosted by the Rights of Neighbours Campaign, brought together influencers, youth leaders, and community voices to reflect on the evolving role of digital creators in shaping society. The event opened with remarks by Mr. Muzammil, a member of SIO, who expressed that the conclave was designed to create voices capable of influencing society with empathy and responsibility. He reminded participants that true influence lies not in popularity but in impact, compassion, and accountability, qualities that every digital creator must uphold in today’s fast-paced online world.
The keynote address was delivered by veteran journalist Shree Prakash Kamat, who explored the immense power influencers hold in shaping public thought. He emphasised that content must be rooted in constitutional values and civic conscience to contribute meaningfully to society. Warning that purposeless content easily descends into trolling, he urged creators to maintain integrity and consistency in the values they represent, using their platforms thoughtfully and responsibly.
One of the most engaging sessions, “Good Neighbours Build a Society,” was led by Dr. Aisha Fidha of GIO. She reflected on the warmth, trust, and solidarity that once characterised neighbourhood life in India, where communities functioned as extended families. Dr. Fidha explained how urban lifestyles and rising individualism have created what she termed “urban coldness,” leaving people emotionally distant despite physical proximity. She highlighted the physical consequences of weakened community bonds—such as increased stress, disturbed sleep, and reduced emergency safety—as well as psychological effects, including loneliness, anxiety, and social withdrawal. She stressed that neighbourhoods are the first unit of society, and strong neighbourly connections are essential for both social harmony and human well-being.
The programme concluded with a thought-provoking address by Mr. Asif Hussain, Chairman of the Board of Innovative Education. He spoke about the responsibility influencers carry in shaping society’s moral and emotional landscape. In a powerful remark, he said that “mankind should be heroes, but we have reduced ourselves to zeros,” pointing to humanity’s role in conflicts, environmental degradation, and social chaos. Yet he reminded the audience that positive change is always possible, and that even the darkest moments eventually give way to light. Mr. Hussain encouraged influencers to use their platforms for constructive storytelling by creating reels, videos, and short films that inspire transformation. Urging the youth of Goa to rise to the occasion, he emphasised that meaningful change begins with consistent small efforts, saying, “Boond boond se banta hai samandar.”
A total of 24 influencers and change-makers were honoured during the event for their contributions to society through digital media. Among them, Mr. Yunus Shaikh and Mr. Usman Khan Pathan received special recognition for their exceptional work in driving social awareness and promoting impactful causes through their digital skills. Their dedication stood out as an example of how online influence can be used to create real-world change.
