Eminent social worker Olinda Pereira passes away

Eminent social worker Olinda Pereira passes away

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 31, 2020: Eminent social worker, former Principal of School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya and Founder of Vishwas Trust, Dr Olinda Pereira, passed away on May 31. She was 95.

Olinda Pereira promoted Women’s Education and Development in several states in our country. She has left an indelible mark in the state of Karnataka, India and overseas.

Dr Olinda Pereira was born on August 15, 1925. She did her PhD from Mysore University, M.A. from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and BA from St Agnes College, Mangaluru. Shr hails from Falnir, Mangaluru and was the youngest of three children of Martin and Lily.

In 1961, she was the founder Principal of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya which offers graduate and post graduate courses. It was the first institution in Karnataka to offer courses in social work. As principal of this institution from 1961 to 1984, she motivated thousands of students to immerse into social service throughout the nation. With her foresight, vision and determination, she has contributed immensely to the cause of women and children.

As president of National Committee on Women, she did notable work and published works like ’Understanding Children’, ’Adjustment and its Correlation among Pre Adolescents’ and ’Domestic Workers’ Struggle’. She was trained in women’s study organization of Philippines. She worked as administrator in the provincial house of Nairobi, Kenya and worked as professor at Mak Master University in Hamilton, Canada. She started city community development centre, family welfare organisation, kindergarten at Ullal and many other organisations in Mangaluru.

Through her social service organisation ’Vishwas’ started in 1999, she has helped senior citizens. she started helpline number and a daycare centre for senior citizens. She set up a modern old age complex at Permai, some 15 km from Mangaluru.

She was received numerous awards including Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award, Veera Rani Abbakka Award, Sandesha Award for Social Service in 2002, Woman of the Year Award from  Mangalore University in 2009.