Jan 21, 2010
Mangalore, Jan 21: Serving poor, sick and destitute makes his day. Joseph Crasta’s life reads like a Parable of Good Samaritan.
A miraculous escape in a major bus accident wherein Crasta was a driver changed his life for better. The incident made him realize the value of life and he set on a mission to better lives. Crasta’s love and care has given a new lease of life to numerous destitute. He daily visits public places such as railway station in Hampankatta and Nehru Maidan in the city to feed the under-privileged. He not only provides food, but most of the time convinces them to lead a better life away from streets.
After purchasing an old house near Tumbinadu, Joseph soon got an opportunity to accommodate destitute many among who were either mentally retarded or suffering from Filaria, HIV and other diseases. So far he has changed lives of over 30 people for better accommodating them in the orphanage and since returned to various destinations. He has accommodated eight persons permanently in the orphanage, who either have nowhere to go or simply want to spend their life under his care.
This apart, he provides meals for at least 20 destitute daily and also gives bath, haircut and clothes whenever he finds someone in need during his visit across the city. He also provides them with medical facility. Out of 26 people picked from the roadside ten of them have been sent to Shimoga, 11 to Snehalaya with the rest returning homes. Mentally retarded, handicapped, sufferers from Filaria, and HIV patients are in this list. He has also helped few alcoholics get a new lease of life by getting them treated at rehabilitation centres.
Further, due to the shortage of facilities in his orphanage, he has sent most of them to Mother Theresa home in the city apart from Vishwasada Mane in Shankarpura, Olavinahalli near K C Road, Ullal and also to Snehalaya in Kanhangad depending on their sickness and disability.
Joseph, now as a source of income is into real estate business and doing well for himself. Attributing all this to god’s grace, he says that the days spent in Divine Centre changed him as a person while serving meal packets near railway station in the city. Crasta always keeps meal packets in his two-wheeler and feeds the hungry destitute, whenever he finds one. Serving the needy is life’s real luxury, he adds.
Crasta with the aim to do something more for the poor and destitute has formed a trust, Snehalaya Charitable Trust of which he is a managing trustee. The trust has four trustees and several members. His plan to provide shelter to more number of people will be carried out only through the help of more donors. “If donors with their large-heartedness provide opportunity to Snehalaya it can reach more people in need, he says.
Contributions can be made to Account No 30826138336, State Bank of India, Kankanady branch.
Joseph Crasta can be contacted at:
Snehalaya Charitable Trust (R),
J M J House, D No 9/51
Near Ramashakthi Mission
Shakthinagar, Mangalore-575005
Mobile +91 97411 13882