Journalist John D’Souza among five chosen for Samudayotsav – 2020 Award
Udupi: Journalist John D’Souza is among the five achievers chosen for the prestigious Samudayotsav – 2020 Award, the first-ever Udupi diocesan event that is being organized by Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh at the Mount Rosary parish grounds, Kallianpur, here on Sunday, January 19.
According to the Press Release issued by the Catholic Sabha office, journalist John D’Souza from Kundapur (mass media); progressive farmer Julian Danti from Udyavar (paddy farming); social activist Roshan D’Souza from Belman and traditional medicinal practitioner Jerome Francis Andrade from Kalmady (home medicines) will be felicitated for their extraordinary contributions in their respective spheres. The veteran of co-operative movement John D’Silva will be conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The six-member selection committee led by Valerian Fernandes, former president of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh chose the distinguished individuals out of the nominees that were pooled from 52 parishes of Udupi diocese.
The award ceremony will be held during the valedictory function of the Samudayotsav – 2020, at the Mount Rosary parish grounds, Kallianpur on Sunday, January 19 at 2:30 pm.
Christian leaders who are of Udupi origin and have significant achievements overseas or in different states across India, serving/served as directors of co-op societies, office bearers of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs), gazette officers or top-level government officials will be felicitated during the programme.
Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Udupi will inaugurate the Samudayotsav – 2020 at Kallianpur on Sunday, January 19 at 9:30 am. Uttarkhand former governor Margaret Alva will be the chief guest of the occasion. Mangaluru south former MLA J R Lobo will deliver the keynote address on the Existing situation of Christian community and future prospects.
Bengaluru Archbishop Dr Peter Machado, Mangaluru bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, retired KAS officer Antony Mendonca, senior journalist Gabriel Vaz, Maharashtra’s senior politician Janet D’Souza, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Christian Development Board chairman Joylus D’Souza, Mumbai-based Model Co-op Bank chairman Albert W D’Souza, Mangaluru-based MCC Bank chairman Anil Lobo Permai and other political leaders, religious and social activists will be present.
About Achievers
John D’Souza Kundapur (Mass Media): John is a native of Koni in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district. He is a Journalist, known for human-centric stories for Vijaya Karnataka – Kannada daily, Jai Konkani and Kunda Prabha for the last 19 years. He has been striving for social change through his stories in contrast to ground realities. He has been the recipient of Rajesh Shibaje Award 2011 conferred by Karnataka Journalists Union and Udupi district Rajyotsav Award – 2016.
Julian Danti Udyavar (paddy farming): He is been born in a farming family that has a history of a century. He has been in the farming of palm grove, areca and pepper in 3 acres land and paddy cultivation in 4 acres land. He rears bulls for tilling his paddy fields and uses only organic manure in this IT era. He is the recipient of Udupi taluk Farmer’s Achievement Award in recognition for adopting tried and tested traditional method of farming.
Roshan D’Souza Belman (social service): He is a native of Belman blessed with multifaceted personality with talents in music, singing, acting, anchoring and social service. He founded Humanities Trust in Belman in 2017 to help the families and individuals who are either ill or in difficulties to sustain a living. Meanwhile, the Trust has helped over 400 poor families across Karnataka offering financial support of over Rs 3 crore in a short duration. He has been helping the homeless to build their homes, offering financial help to poor patients and needy children for their studies, helping Aids patients and transgenders regardless of faith, caste and creed.
Jerome Francis Andrade Kalmady (home medicines): He is a native of Kalmady, a progressive farmer and traditional medicinal practitioner for jaundice. He has been dispensing the concoction of shrubs, plants and roots successfully treating jaundice cases for the last 25 years.
John D’Silva (Lifetime Achievement Award): He is a native of Sanoor in Karkal taluk who is a veteran of co-operative banking in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. He has been instrumental in founding several co-operative banks that were mentored to become successful financial institutions. He is the founder of Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Mumbai. He is a philanthropist and has been a recipient of several awards. He is helping the talented needy students from Christian communities of Udupi diocese through John D’Silva Foundation®.
