Karavali Gaurava award for Hilda Rayappan

The Dakshina Kannada District Karavali Utsava Samiti has chosen social activist Prof Hilda Rayappan for the Karavali Gaurava Prashasti 2018-19.

A press release from Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar has said that the award will be present to Prof Rayappan in recognition of her contribution in the field of social service, education and women’s empowerment, among others. Prof Rayappan will be given the award during the valedictory of the Karavali Utsav at Panambur beach on December 30.

Prof Rayappan was a professor at School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya. She is the founder and managing trustee of the Prajna Counselling Centre, which was launched in 1987 and was the first counselling centre in Mangaluru. She has been providing shelter to poor destitute children at Makkala Kuteera and Chinnara Tangudana and has been engaged in rehabilitating child labourers by imparting them education.

Through the Prajna Counselling Centre, Prof Rayappan has been providing short stay home for needy women. The Centre is also running Santwana, a women’s helpline in Mangaluru.

In addition, women self help groups have been started that have been helping women to achieve financial independence. She is the recipient of many honours such as ‘Best Student Award’ on the 125th anniversary of the University College, ‘Social Service Award’ during the Taluk Kannada Sahitya Sammelana 1997, ‘Women Empowerment Award’ by St Agnes College in 2000 and others.