Report on the JAAI West Zone Congress

 ‘Water We Care’, Pune 14^th & 5^th October 2006 

The Jesuit Alumni Association of India (JAAI) held  its  West  Zone Congress on 14^th  & 15^th  October, 2006 at St.Vincent’s High School, Pune. At the inauguration on 14^th morning, the chief guest  Bishop Valerian D’souza, Bishop of Pune lit the  lamp along with the guest of honor Mr.Harshad Bastikar,Vice President Thermax, Mr.Ronald D’costa, National President of JAAI and Mr.Surjeet Singh, President, JAAI West Zone. Also present on the occasion were Fr.Mario Fernandes S.J., Principal St.Vincent’s High School, Mr. Arthur Morris, President VOBA and Mr. Bobby Jacob, Convenor of the Congress. 

During the inauguration, Mr. Harshad  Bastikar, released  the Souvenir published on the occasion, while Mr. Ronald D’costa I gave the keynote address on the Congress theme “Water- We Care”. In his keynote address Mr.D’costa pointed out that every Jesuit Alumni has an important social obligation to be aware and also practice water conservation, since water is a fast depleting resource. He also exhorted the School Principals to take the initiative to the classroom  so  that  good  habits  are  inculcated  at  an  early  age. 

More than 150 Jesuit Alumni from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Nasik, Surat, Baroda, Sangamner, Goa  &  Pune attended  this two day Congress  which was hosted  by the Vincentian Old Boy’s Association (VOBA) . The various sessions focused on varied aspects related to importance and preservation of water. Mr Crispino Lobo of the Water Shed Organisation Trust elaborated on the work done by  them  in  the rural parts of Maharashtra. Mr Bastikar of Thermax enlightened the audience about various industrial solutions to treat and recycle water. The second day saw,  Mr Ghosh,  Additional Director, CWPRS sharing a macro prospective on the water situation and cautioned  the audience  to  pay  closer  attention  to  conservation  of  water .  

The post lunch session on day one of the congress also saw a remarkable song and dance performance by the students of St. Vincent’s High School and Loyola High School. They enthralled the gathering  who  were  taken on  a  nostalgic trip down memory lane with music and dance from the present to the 1950’s. 

On the concluding day, Fr. Nobert  Menezes S.J.  the  All India Jesuit Alumni Advisor, in his address urged the  gathering to take a learning from  the deliberations  in their personal life and to also draw up a plan  of  action to  put  in  place  the  learning  and  to implement  the ideas generated  in  their  homes, workplaces, as  also  in  their  communities. 

Mr. Conrad Gonsalves-World Union Representative of JAAI and  Mr. Surjeet Singh Arora President JAAI West Zone moderated  an  interactive  session. Mr. Bobby Jacob Congress  Convenor  proposed the vote of thanks. 

During  the  conference  the following representative  from  Pune were nominated to be on the West Zone Alumni Committee - Mr. Bobby Jacob and  Mr. Imtiaz Lokhandwala  from  VOBA  and Mr. Sanjeev Javale  from  ELAN.