Christian missionaries role in education, community services lauded by Minister

Christian missionaries role in education, community services lauded by Minister

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, July 17, 2016: Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, said at Udupi  on July 16, Saturday that the Christian missionaries played a vital role in providing education and healthcare facilities in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts and in many areas of India.

Speaking after inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of Milagres College and Milagres PU College at Kallianpur, Minister Madhwaraj said that in a recent survey of Human Development Index, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts were found forward in many ways.  These two districts were now well known for quality education and healthcare world wide.  In fact, the quality of healthcare in these two districts could be compared to that of Europe. The foundation for all this was laid by the Christian missionaries, who had started schools and hospitals in these two coastal districts even 200 years  ago. 

“Today, there were a large number of students getting educated at Milagres College which celebrated 50 years.  This showed the vision of the founder. It was befitting the college was located in a place, which also housed the Milagres Cathedral having a history of over 300 years,” he said.

Minister Madhwaraj lauded the initiative of the college in starting the ‘Milagres Golden Jubilee Educational Fund for the Students’, through which it intended to educate the poor students.

The college was intending to raise Rs. 1 crore for the fund. “It will prove to be a boon for the poor students,” he said.   Stany B. Lobo, correspondent of the college, welcomed the gathering. Gerald Pinto, college principal, read the report. Rev Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Catholic Diocese, presided over the function.

Janaki Brahmavar, Chairperson of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and an alumnus of the college, Savitha Kumari, principal of Milagres PU College, and Lawrence C. D’Souza, secretary of Catholic Education Society, were present.