Pingara Rajyotsava award-2014, for "Manasa" a worthy winner

Pingara Rajyotsava award-2014, for "Manasa" a worthy winner

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 29, 2014: Addressing a press conference with media in attendance, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino announced the 10th ’Pingara Rajyotsava Award 2014’ will be conferred on ’Manasa Rehabilitation Centre’ a Catholic Sabha Mangalore-Udupi Pradesh(R) project based in Pamboor, Shankarpura in Udupi district. The meet was called by Raymond D’Cunha, Pingara editor-in-chief  on Tuesday October 28, at Hotel Woodlands, Mangalore.

 

 

 

 

Pingara Rajyotsava Award 2014 will be presented at a gala ceremony on Tuesday November 11, 2014  in the evening at Don Bosco Hall.

Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore will present the award. Al Haj Thwaqa Ahmed Moulavi Kaziyatakam will be the chief guest. Minister Abhaychandra Jain, MLA J R Lobo, MLC Ivan D’Souza and Dr M Mohan Alva will be present for the programme. Valenica parish priest Fr James D’Souza will inaugurate the programme.

More than 25 applications were received and  Manasa Rehabilitation Centre was the choice,  said Roy Castelino, president of award selection committee. Harikrishna Punaroor (joint president), Fr William Menezes (co-ordinator), Rohan Monteiro, Dr B G Suvarna, Eliyas Fernandes, C G Pinto, Srikar Prabhu and Ramakrishna R were the members of selection commitee.

Raymond D’Cunha said that the Pingara Rajyotsava Award will not contain cash prizes. "Instead of cash prize we are going to promote the Manasa Rehabilitation Centre for one year and we will get donors for the centre," he said.

An over view of Manasa Rehabilitation & Training Centre Pamboor :

 For the differently able, mentally challenged children is for two decades now rendering services beyond the human call, a lofty paradigm. It has been honoured with State and National awards and special children from far and near come here.  Manasa came into being in 1995 through the inspired foresight of  Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, a diocesan and church initiative  The area in those times was part of the ancient Diocese of Mangalore - in October 2012 the new Udupi diocese came to be and it relates to Udupi diocese now.


Manasa Rehabilitation Centre has become a state-of-the-art  institution to provide the mentally challenged special children of age  5 yrs and upward, to successfully integrate with normal  academic skills through  proper training and rehabilitation. A trust of 15 members with varying skills and dedicated concern is   managing the centre (see box).The Holy Spirit sisters are closely involved with key roles of ’Principal’  and ’Hostel  Warden’ who are a boon to the students.

In 2002, the Government of Karnataka recognised the high value of the institution and awarded Manasa "The best School award for Child welfare" which testifies to the rapid development of the institution. To look at basic numbers that Manasa has been serving over recent years: 2008/09-124, 2009/10-127, 2010/11-146, 2011/12-160, 2012/13-170.

Manasa has now created a legacy for outstanding performance in the ’Special Olympics’ sports arena, with Pramila Pinto winning a gold and four others winning medals. There has been no looking back and a sustained improvement  has been its forte.

At ’Manasa’  human need is addressed in most convincing terms. It is sufficient to observe be it the trustees, the volunteers, the staff or the people concerned, a deep bond exists and one can visibly see that these special children of God respond and are sheltered by human concern in people of good will.