Five Mangaloreans Conferred ‘Eminent Nagarika Awards’ by Bharatiya/Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi

Five Mangaloreans, namely- Jeeth Milan Roche (Environmentalist); Ullal Padmanabha Shetty (Social worker/Civic Activist); Ajoy D’silva (RTI Activist); Nigel Albuquerque (Social/Civic Activist); and Alfie D’souza ( Journo) Conferred ‘Eminent Nagarika Awards’ by Bharatiya Nagarika Samithi and Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi at a Awards Ceremony Programme, held at Hotel Woodlands, Mangaluru on Saturday, 12 September 2020

Mangaluru: On the outset on behalf of all the awardees, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Founding Members of Bharatiya Nagarika Samithi & Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi, for coming all the way from Bengaluru and handing over the awards. The kind gesture shown by these Bengaloreans on Mangaloreans, is very much appreciated, that someone from out of the Coastal City has thought and recognized the efforts put in by these deserving Five persons in the field of Social and Civic Service, towards the Community, in bringing a CHANGE and making a DIFFERENCE! Thanks-a-million, to our new Friends from the Bharatiya/Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi, a movement for the improvement of life in the society. A movement of the Nagariks, by the Nagariks and for the Nagariks, whose objective is to create a forum of Leadership for the benefit of society.

The Awards Ceremony held at Hotel Woodlands, Mangaluru on 12 September 2020, began with Welcome address delivered by Pradeep Mendonca, the Founder of Bharatiya Nagarika Samithi and Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi, followed by National Anthem sung by Miss Adlin D’Silva and Miss Alina D’Silva, both daughters of Ajoy D’silva of Bejai, Mangaluru. Introduction of Bharatiya Nagarika Samithi and Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi was done by Pradeep Mendonca, which was followed by the Awards Ceremony of “Eminent Nagarika Award” conferred on Jeeth Milan Roche (Environmentalist); Ullal Padmanabha Shetty (Social worker/Civic Activist); Ajoy D’silva (RTI Activist); Nigel Albuquerque (Social/Civic Activist); and Alfie D’souza ( Journo)

JEETH MILAN ROCHE (ENVIRONMENTALIST) :

Mr Jeeth Milan Roche, Member of MCC Civic Group, “Environment Warrior”, Achievement of Awards from State and National, His leadership and Community services, which includes Planting trees in the Catholic cemeteries and Hindu Crematoriums in Mangaluru, Barren government lands, City Roads, National and State Highways, Railway lands, School and College Premises and creating a mini forest in the cemeteries, also Educating students and inculcating the students the habit of protection of Environment by planting trees; Educating students in organic farming. He is also upcoming with Projects in Rainwater Harvesting, Water Treatment and Waste Management.

Jeeth Milan Roche, son of Vincent Roche And Rosy Roche born on 26th April 1976, completed his schooling at St Rita’s English Medium School, High School at Casia High School, and College at St Aloysius, all in Mangaluru. Hailing from a poor family, whose dad was a black Smith, Jeeth started his business when he was 2nd PUC, selling Tea power door to door shops, homes, hotels, Hostel etc. He was a successful businessman till 2004, when people started cheating him with money they owe, resulting in business loss. Depressed in life, having no income, and to keep him occupied and relieved from stress, he started planting trees around his house, his church cemetery, near the ponds and railway property etc, buying plants from the forest dept.

Meantime, he got a job in Mphasis, an IT company, where he worked for 4 years, and later 3 years Cognizant, also an IT Company, during which he still continued his passion of tree planting. He says, “One day, when I was carrying a few plants in my scooter, with my son Ethan, as pillion rider with the spade and pick axe, a photojournalist clicked random picks and made a news item in a local website, after which my planting work picked up, and forest dept started giving plants for free and also started helping them in locating places. My Love for birds and trees made me what I am today. Both in bad and good times I have planted thousands of saplings in various places.

Jeeth is involved in Leadership and community services, like : planting challenge; Planting and creating mini forest in cemeteries; Educating students on Environment topics; planting in Western Ghats; involvement in Laudato Si project; doing Organic farming in schools; and gearing for the up coming rain water harvesting project. He is a recipient of many state and National Achievement awards, like : Aranya Mitra award 2013 (Forest Friend) Karnataka Forest Department; Pollution Control Board 2016 Environmentalist award; Infant Jesus Man of the Year award 2017; Saffron Foundation award 2011; Centre for Integrated Learning 2015 award; Invenger 2019 award; recently received the prestigious All India Catholic Union Century Award. He has been felicitated at many Churches, Temples, and Education Institutions and Social organizations. Married to Selma, he has two children- Ethan Sean Roche and Nathan Morgan Roche, both studying in St Aloysius college, Mangaluru

AJOY D’SILVA (RTI ACTIVIST) :

Ajoy D’Silva Co-Founder, MCC Civic Group is instrumental as an RTI activist. He is a multi-talented personality, having immense knowledge of civil work which is done by govt agencies in Mangaluru, found irregularities in Civil work and has won in giving justice to the Nagariks of Mangaluru He is still addressing the several multiple civic problems citizens face across Mangaluru. However, he found that resolving civic problems was akin to a bottomless pit and researched for a permanent solution narrowed down to institutionalizing citizen participation via Ward Committees and Area Sabhas in the true spirit of the 74th Constitutional Amendment of 1992, Supplemented by the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Act of 2011. Upon meeting a deadlock repeatedly approaching the respective authorities in Mangaluru City Corporation for regulatory compliance, MCC Civic Group to the judicial route, successfully moving the High court of Karnataka in Bengaluru Judgement orders for ward committees and Area Sabhas in Mangaluru City Corporation-WP53244/2018 awaiting judicial compliance.

Born in Mangaluru, he did his schooling and college at St Aloysius College, and with Electrical Diploma, he is a qualified technical solutions expert from Indian Technical Institute, Mumbai. Ajoy is an avid RTI activist in examining and tracking down procedural lapses, containing corruption in MCC, MUDA considerably. He is also involved in various social activities, and ready to help anyone in need, and is always a go-getter. He has helped many people in their civic issues, either with MCC or district administration. Married to Magdeline, a beautician, he is a proud father of two beautiful girls- Adlin (12) and Alina (4)

ULLAL PADMANABHA SHETTY (SOCIAL WORKER & CIVIC ACTIVIST) :

Ullal Padmanabha Shetty, an Active Member of MCC Civic Group,is a Retired AEE from Mangaluru City Corporation. Having pursued Ward Committee and Area Sabha in Mangaluru City Corporation amid wafer-thin support extended to him right from the time the 74 th constitutional Amendment took effect in 1993, was and remains a pillar of support to the cause with the wealth of information he possesses

72-years-old Ullal Padmanabha Shetty, hailing from Mangaluru, having a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, worked for 35 years in government sector in water supply dept; one year in private construction company; .4 months in nagarothana at DC office; 3 years in multi-village water supply under Zilla panchayat, all in Mangaluru district. During his service, he organised Employees Association and Residence Welfare Association and got relief through agitation, like 10 days saradi anna-sathyagraha with scavengers and daily wage workers and legal fights. After retiring from govt services, he is still active with NGO’s like ‘Nammamane Nammavooru’, among others, and doing various community services. He is also part of ‘Gas Matthu Padithara Cheeti Balakedaarara Sangha Prajavikaas Seva Trust Forum for justice and active member of MCC Civic Group.

NIGEL ALBUQUERQUE ( SOCIAL and CIVIC ACTIVIST) :

Nigel Albuquerque Co-founder, MCC Civic group formed with like-minded citizens FIVE years back in order to address the several multiple civic problems citizens face across Mangaluru. However, he found that resolving civic problems was akin to a bottomless pit and researched for a permanent solution narrowed down to institutionalizing citizen participation via Ward Committees and Area Sabhas in the true spirit of the 74 th Constitutional Amendment of 1992, Supplemented by the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Act of 2011. Upon meeting a deadlock repeatedly approaching the respective authorities in Mangaluru City Corporation for regulatory compliance, MCC Civic Group to the judicial route, successfully moving the High court of Karnataka in Bengaluru Judgement orders for ward committees and Area Sabhas in Mangaluru City Corporation-WP53244/2018 awaiting judicial compliance.

An Alumnus of St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, Nigel started his career in Hospitality industry – Taj Group of Hotels in Mangaluru, subsequently switching over to ITES (BPO) Industry in Mumbai. Given his legal/ business aptitude, he always possessed the desire to action something of lasting impact for the benefit of his hometown Mangaluru in particular and to society in general, the opportunity of which presented itself in the local self governance in Mangaluru – Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC). About 5 years back, he and Ajoy D’silva formed a like-minded citizens initiative called MCC Civic Group in order to address the several to multiple civic problems faced by citizens across Mangaluru. Their aim was to form Ward Committees and Area Sabhas in the true spirit of the 74th Constitutional Amendment of 1992, supplemented by the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Act of 2011- and he and Ajoy have succeeded in their project.

Nigel takes the opportunity to express that Padmanabha Ullal, Retd AEE, MCC, having pursued WC & AS in MCC amid wafer thin support extended to him right from the time the 74th Constitutional Amendment took effect in 1993, was and remains a pillar of support to the cause with the wealth of information he possesses.

ALFIE D’SOUZA ( JOURNALIST ) :

Alfie D’souza, also an Member of MCC Civic Group, has been covering all the events and Civic issues taken up by MCC Civic Group, and highlight them Mangalorean.com, thereby bringing awareness among the people, and many of his reports have been eye-opener for City and govt officials. He remains a pillar of support to the many civic issues of MCC Civic Group, and general public, with his unique writing talents and professional journalism.

Born in Mangaluru, having completed schooling and B Sc Degree at St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, Alfie did Advance Computer Studies and also Lab Tech Course in Bengaluru, and working for 4 years at Smith Kline & French in Bengaluru, he immigrated to Chicago, USA in 1990, and worked there for nearly 24 years, as Lab Tech for a reputed company, and also was a freelance reporter for two newspapers in the Chicago suburbs. In St Aloysius College, he was the Secretary of College Life Association; Secretary of Science Association; and Editor of Co-Life Magazine. In Mangalore Jaycees, being editor of the Club Bulletin, he won two State Outstanding Editor awards.

In the US, he was an active member of United Way; Salvation Army; and many other social organizations, including Indian Catholic Association; and Mangalorean Konkan Catholic Association, both in Chicago. He was presented with the honorary certificate for Outstanding Community Service by Barack Obama, before he became US President. Coming back to Mangaluru in 2013, Alfie joined the much loved and popular website among the educated readers-“Mangaloraen.com”, and covered lots of civic issues, and many of his articles brought changes in several civic issues- and ever since MCC Civic Group started, he has covered all the events, until today.

The awardees were presented with a shawl, memento, citation and a plant by the Founders of the samithi. Vote of thanks was proposed by Inderjit Singh Rathore, the Co-Founder Bharatiya/Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi.

ABOUT BHARATIYA NAGARIKA SAMITHI/BENGALURU NAGARIKA SAMITHI ;

Bharatiya Nagarika Samithi and Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi based at No. 46, BHEL Officers Layout, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru-560041, is a movement for the improvement of life in the society. This is a movement of the Nagariks, by the Nagariks and for the Nagariks. Our objective is to create a forum of Leadership for the benefit of society. We look forward to all to join and come with suggestions for the betterment of society. Our plan is to have the demand for Nagariks as our manifesto. Let’s join and contribute to the development of our Society.

BNS initially started to help Senior citizens by getting senior citizen cards and Voter ID’s to many Nagariks; Conducted programmes to Orphanages and Senior Citizens Home, which we are still continuing. During the pandemic we joined with Nagariks to distribute Food, Groceries, Hygiene care products and Essentials with Esteemed Foundations and Organisations Viz, The Akshaya Patra Foundation; Atria Foundation; Corps of Military Police, Bengaluru; Pioneer Corps Training Centre, Bengaluru; Hands4Society; Project Smile Foundation; Child Help Foundation and Karnataka Rashtra Samithi Party. Presently we are focusing on educating Hygiene care programme for women. We have Donors in India and Abroad contributing to help the needy. We have plans for the Welfare of Nagariks and we are continuously on the move for the development of Nagariks.

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