For reaching out to rural and tribal students, the Jesuits of Kolkata have opened a co-educational St Xavier's College in Burdwan.
Affiliated to Burdwan University, they have begun with six undergraduate courses in arts, science and commerce streams for the first batch of 120 students.
College Vice-Principal Fr Jimmy Keepuram said, "This college will cater to the rural and tribal population of Burdwan and nearby areas. We will have a boys' hostel, library and research labs to impart modern education to the students."
He said till the college building is ready, they will have afternoon classes in the St Xavier's School campus in Burdwan, located 100 km from Kolkata.
"After two years, we will be ready with a separate campus on a five-acre plot adjacent to the school. We will add new courses as we progress," he told PTI.
Besides English and accountancy, other honours level courses being offered are biotechnology, computer science, sociology and geography.
This is the fourth college by the Jesuits in West Bengal and the 50th one in the country. The other three colleges in the state are in Kolkata, Siliguri and Darjeeling.
