Mangaluru: The Roshni Alumni Association (R) (RAA) celebrated its annual Homecoming day (18-19) together with its Annual General Meeting at the Eden Club on the 14th of August 2019. It was the end of a successful term of two years for the first Managing Committee with Kishore Attavar in the chair after the association was registered under the Cooperative Societies Act of the Government of Karnataka. A new managing committee of 20 members was elected from among the members present at the meeting with Ms. Lydith Pinto, the returning officer conducting a very smooth and consensual election. The new committee will meet in September to choose its office-bearers.

Like its parent Roshni Nilaya, from whom its membership is gathered and its focus centered, the Roshni Alumni Association is an association that follows the principles and motto of its Alma Mater, the School of Social Work in the formulation and execution of its programmes – ‘Love is made fruitful in service.’

In the term of office gone by, the RAA was led by Kishore Attavar as president with Stevan Pinto as Vice President, Poonam.M.R as Secretary, Lyra Pinto as Joint Secretary and Evelyn Benis as Treasurer. Managing Committee members included Emilynne Pais, Brian Fernandes, Diana Pinto, Geraldine Fernandes, Jeevan, K.H.Abdulla, Lydith Pinto, Merlyn Caldeira, Olivia Pereira, Ratna Pinto, Rosa Nimmy Mathew, Perpetua Lopes, Sebastian K.V, Shobha Anchan, and Principal Sophia N Fernandes (Former) / Juliet C.J (Current) as an Ex-officio member. It has 423 life members on record.

The Annual Homecoming and General Meeting began with the Emcee, Lyra Pinto welcoming the Provincial of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, an International Catholic Religious Society, founded in France in 1790 during the French Revolution, Miss Philomena D’Sa, Ms Juliet Joseph, Principal, School of Social Work, Ms Evelyn Bennis, Dean, Post Graduate Studies, Dr. Miss Janice Mary, Vice Principal, Ms Jacintha, former Principal, Dr. G. R. Krishnamoorthy, Professor, HR Studies (Rtd) and members of the Association in French which, coincidentally is taught as a short term course at Roshni Nilaya.

After Geraldine Fernandes, Lyra Pinto, Emilynne Pais Ratna Pinto, Audrey Pinto, and Olivia Pereira invoked God’s blessings through song, Ratna Pinto read out the secretary’s report on behalf of Ms. Poonam Rupesh Kumar, Secretary, who could not make it to the AGM. The Secretary’s report highlighted the fact that that the Association focussed on four main activities during the year gone by – 2018-19:

 Principal Ms Juliet with the Digital Directory in a Pen Drive

• The preparation and issue of Digital Directory of the Students of Roshni Nilaya since it began its education and social work mission in 1960: The idea was to capture the rich experience of the nearly 7000 alumni across the world, and to facilitate reverse flow of that rich vein of knowledge base to the Alma mater to enrich the social work education. The process was long and arduous but was made possible by the dedication and hard work of the President, Kishore Attavar, and Managing Committee members Lydith Pinto and Merlyn Caldeira with the wholehearted support of the Principal and office of Roshni Nilaya, without whom this would not have been possible.
• Preparedness for counselling support to the natural disaster in Kodagu: In Aug 2018, exactly a year ago, Kodagu was affected badly by incessant rains resulting in landslides and loss of life, houses, property and road connectivity. The RAA Mangalore in consultation with the Counselling Department of Roshni Nilaya planned for counseling support to the victims and their families. Two teams were formed led by Dr. Audrey Pinto of which six were trained counselors. Bopanna, an Alumnus of the 1984 batch agreed to organize logistical support for the counseling team of Alumni. 
• Commencement of a Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR): In the context of CSR provisions in the Companies Act of 2013, its subsequent amendments and the latest guidelines on the expenditure and investment of CSR mandated funds, the practice of CSR has become more focussed and specialized – it is also distinct from the practice of social work even as it imbibes its principles. It is here that a need for a Post Graduate Diploma in the subject was felt. The Alumni of Roshni have rich experience in the domain and are doing extremely well in this area. RAA Mangalore in partnership with RAA Bangalore and Mysore designed the PGD in CSR of 100 hours for the benefit of the students of Roshni Nilaya as well as working professionals. Six students successfully completed the first course. President Kishore Attavar (1981) and Ravichandra Bekal (1980) designed the syllabus. Compulsory internship opportunities were provided by Alumni in companies in which they are employed in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mangaluru.
• The honouring of Contributors (to society) from among the Alumni: During the Annual Homecoming (17-18) of the RAA held at the Mangalore Club on January 13th this year, the following Alumni were felicitated by the RAA for their contribution to society. 126 Members and Students participated in the event held at Mangalore Club.

1. Janardhan Kesargadde of 1994 batch in area of Art, culture and Public service
2. Umesh Chandra, of 1980 batch in area of Social work education and Practice
3. Vasanth Kammila, of 1991 batch in area of Social work education and Practice
4. Sheena Shetty of 1984 batch in area of Social service and community work
5. Krishna Moolya of 1984 batch in area of Social service and community work
6. Sunitha Krishnan of 1994 batch in area of Social Service and community work

Ms Ratna Pinto in her report also mentioned that the RAA had planned, in association with the National Institute of Personnel Management, Mangaluru Chapter, the HR Forum of Roshni Nilaya and the College itself, to organize a day-long National Conference on People Management for HR Practitioners, Students, Faculty and those in related professions on the 14th, at the Roshni Campus as a part of its Annual Homecoming celebrations. It had, however, to be postponed due to incessant rains during that week which caused blockage of the roads disrupting travel plans of the keynote speakers, who were incidentally Alumni. It will now be held in September 2019.

Ms. Evelyn Bennis, Treasurer then presented the Accounts of the Association which was passed unanimously by the Members. After a brief introduction to the Digital Directory, by the President Kishore Attavar, the directory was handed over to the Provincial Ms. D’Sa and the Principal of Roshni Nilaya Ms. Juliet by Lydith Pinto and Meryln Caldeira, who were instrumental in its preparation and execution, for release by them. After the release, Ms. D’Sa addressed the gathering. She said the Alumni Association is doing good work to support the College and uplift society and commended the efforts that went into preparing the digital Directory. She hoped the good work would continue unabated, once the new team took over.

Before Olivia Pereira rendered the vote of thanks, Prof. G. R. Krishnamurthy, Prof (Retd) was invited to address the gathering. His address added to the nostalgia of the occasion. Members then presented a group dance to a modern mashup – it was so enjoyable that at the end of it there was a spontaneous join in by the seated members. Just before dinner, a Bingo (Housie) game with a twist was organized by Ratna Pinto and Geraldine Fernandes. The twist was that instead of numbers on the tickets, the players had to choose words relating to the college, its environs, its history, and its staff, which were then used to play a regular game of Housie! That it was a thoroughly enjoyable game could be seen from the enthusiasm with which each and everyone participated. Brian Fernandes co-hosted the programme, and he kept the crowd engaged through it. 

About the School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya
The School of Social Work, managed by the Institute of Social Service Mangalore of Karnataka State, was established in 1960 in Mangalore by the Society of Daughters of the Heart of Mary, an International Catholic Religious Society, founded in France in 1790 during the French Revolution. It is the pioneer Post Graduate Centre for Social Work Education in Karnataka, listed as a ‘Minority’ Institution. It believes in the dictum – “Small is Beautiful”. It is situated on a six-acre campus wherein, besides the college, there are service centers such as Kindergarten, Family Service Agency, Family Counselling Centre and CHILDLINE.

Education in this College is inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. From the gospel, it draws high ideals of life and service based on the values of respect, freedom, and equality. It seeks to contribute to the vision of a humane, just and harmonious society.