Mangaluru: The 12th edition of Rachana awards – 2014, which is instituted by Rachana, a Catholic Chamber of Commerce & Industry, was conferred on five eminent individuals for their contribution in different fields of professional endeavour. The glittering award ceremony was held on Sunday, at Milagres Hall, Mangaluru.
Rachana outstanding woman of the year was conferred on Dr Jeanette Pinto, a retired educationist from Mumbai, while Gabriel Stany Veigas, a retired forest official, received the Rachana agriculturist of the year award, for turning his 37 acres agricultural land into a model farm, with innovative farming practices.
Rachana entrepreneur of the year was conferred on Raphael Sequeira, entrepreneur from Mumbai. He is the Managing Director of Mumbai based Reliable group, and, Dr Anil Kieth D’Cruz, director at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, as well as professor and surgeon, department of Head & Neck Surgery was awarded the Rachana professional of the year. The NRI Entrepreneur Award of the year was conferred upon Liguory D’Mello, Group Managing Director of Technofit Group, Oman
After felicitating the awardees, J.R Lobo, MLA, Mangalore South said these award ceremonies are held not only to recognize the hard word and achievements of the individuals, but to motivate youngsters. These five eminent awardees’ life experience is a lesson to the budding youngsters, he said. He asked the youth to make use of the loan, which is given to start self-entrepreneurship by minority development cell.
He stressed that the Mangalorean catholics go abroad, make money and settle there. He asked those NRI’s to come back to Mangalore and settle here. Only here, we find our own identity, our people, tradition and culture, while there is no identity in foreign countries, where we are forced to live as second grade citizens in these first grade counties.
Chief guest Ivan Fernandez, NRI businessman said, “irrespective of social status, it is the idea and following it up persistently without giving up is the secret of success in the business. He asked the youth to come up with innovations and creative ideas. He gave the example of the two youth who started Flipkart.com.
“Today, youngsters begin but give up. If you look at the life of successful businessmen, everyone faced that moment, where they had to either give up or continue. Those who continue, succeed”, he said.
He said India has lot of opportunities in terms of domestic consumption.
After receiving the honors, the awardees shared their life’s journey. Agriculturalist Gabriel encouraged the gathering to plant trees in their neighbourhood for a better tomorrow. “Today we carry water bottles with us, there will be a day, when we will have to carry oxygen wherever we go. The exploitation of natural resources is shocking”, he said.
Earlier, John B. Monteiro, president of Rachana in his welcome speech said self-entrepreneurship is the backbone of our country.
MLC Ivan D’Souza also spoke at the occasion.
Secretary Anil Lobo, Stany Alvares convener, joint secretary Raymond D’Cunha, treasurer Nelson Monteiro, Roy Castelino, president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and other governing body members, Louis J Pinto, Dr Errol Pinto, Paul Moras, Dr Norman Mendonca and Juliet Mascarenhas and others were present during the programme.
