'Swabhiman Awards 2017' for seven differently abled achievers

Seven differently abled achievers will receive ‘Swabhiman Awards 2017’, instituted by ‘Daijiworld Weekly’, at Town Hall in Mangaluru on October 14.

Addressing reporters, the weekly editor-in-chief Hemacharya said this year, the weekly has instituted an award for an institution that strives for the welfare and rehabilitation of marginally deprived children. ‘Snehadeep’ Residential School for HIV-infected people managed by Tabassum at Bejai-Kapikad has been selected for the prestigious award. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 sponsored by Karnataka Bank under its CSR initiative and a citation.

The other award winners are P Krishna Bhat from Kavoor, Celestine Mabel Rodrigues from Vitla, Arjun Adyanthaya from Kodialguttu, Pramila Joyce Pinto from Vamanjoor, Ashley D’Souza from St Agnes Special School in Bendoor and Prajwal Lobo of Saanidhya School in Shaktinagar. They will receive the award with a citation and a cash of Rs 25,000 each.

Fr Muller Charitable Institutions director Fr Richard Coelho will be the chief guest for the event while Karnataka Bank MD and CEO Mahabaleshwar M S, Thumbay Group and Gulf Medical University president Thumbay Moideen will be the guests of honour.

MAHE University former VC Dr B M Hegde will deliver the keynote address. A special edition of ‘Daijiworld Weekly’, ‘Health and Wellness’, which has been edited by Dr Hegde will also be released.

About the awardees

In spite of being affected by polio, P Krishna Bhat from Kavoor has completed his studies and served the Union Bank for 30 years. He retired in 2014, but keeps himself abreast with many social activities.

Celestine Mable Rodrigues suffers from 80% disability from cleft in hand and foot. For the past 18 years, however, she is working with Mescom as an office clerk.

Pramila Joyce Pinto is a 28-year-old slow learner, hails from Vamanjoor and was trained at Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Udupi, in skills and extracurricular activities. An alumnus of St Agnes Special School, she has participated in roller skating and straight line race and won several medals. She won one gold and two bronze in Special Olympics World Summer Games held at Athens, Greece, in 2011.

Arjun Adyanthaya (19) from Kodialguttu in Mangaluru is suffering from ‘Osteogenenesis Imferpercta,’ a rare disease which left him crippled since a few months of his birth. In spite of this, he has passed his SSLC with 82% marks and I PU with 70%. He has a desire to be a graduate with due encouragement and support of his friends and teachers at St Aloysius PU College.

Ashley D’Souza (18) from Ullal is a below average intelligence person and suffers from severe writing and reading disability. He has passed CBSE exam in SSC and now studying II PU at St Agnes Special School in Mangaluru. He has participated in half marathon and won gold in Dead and Bench Press in Special Olympics held in Mandya, Kolhapur, Hubballi. He has won two gold medals at Special Olympics and national-level in power-lifting championship in 2017.

Prajwal Lobo (21) has 50% mild mental disorder and studying at Saanidhya Residential School and Training Centre for Mentally Challenged. In spite of his disability, he has won silver in handball in Mumbai, silver in Softball in Odisha and his biggest achievement is winning silver and gold medals at the national level in power-lifting competition held in Maharashtra.

DH News Service