Fr Ivan Madtha, 3 others get ‘Swabhiman awards’
Daijiworld weekly to mark its second anniversary has launched ‘Swabhiman Awards’ in order to identify and honour achievers who have overcome disabilities and have set examples for others to emulate, said Swabhiman Awards Selection Committee Chief Coordinator William Pais in a press meet.
Four people have been selected for Swabhiman Awards and they will be felicitated with a citation, memento and a cash prize of Rs 25,000. The people selected for the awards are Rev Fr Ivan Madtha, who spreads socially relevant messages with magic in spite of losing left arm and two fingers of right hand; Mohammed Iqbal, for his excellence in entrepreneurial initiative in spite of being affected with polio; Sudharatha K S, a wheelchair bound who has created wonders with her paintbrush; Wilfred Valerian Gomes for organising the disabled through an organisation and taking up cases of injustice though he himself is disabled.
Meanwhile, Boniface Prabhu who has made it to the international arena of wheelchair tennis, Zena Colaco for her academic and artistic achievements in spite of being hearing and speech impaired and Aruna Kumari Manipal who is visually impaired but has versatile music talent by mastering Veena and will be very soon reaching the Vidwan status have been selected for the Swabhiman Special Recognition Awards. The awardees will receive a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and memento with a citation. A full pledged jury consisting of Kannada writer Dr Sara Aboobacker, Vishwa Konkani Sardar Basti Vaman Shenoy, Social Worker Dr Lavina Noronha, Journalist Dr Ronald Anil Fernandes was formed to go through the nominations. The awards will be presented during the Daijiworld weekly second anniversary celebrations on June 12 at Shanti Kiran, Bajjodi, Mangalore at 4 pm. Daijiworld weekly Editor Hemacharya and Director (Operations) Melwyn Rodrigues were present.
