Special Olympics Gold Medalist Pramila Pinto Given Rousing Welcome at Udupi
Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Newtwork - Udupi(RD/CN)
Udupi, Jul 7: Pramila Pinto, a student of Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Pamboor, near here, has brought laurels to the country and to her hometown by bagging gold and bronze medals in roller skating at the Special Olympics held recently in Athens, Greece.
She was felicitated by the Centre’s authorities and local residents on Thursday July 7.
Fr Stany Tauro, parish priest, Our Lady of Good Health parish, Shirva, presided over the programme.
In his presidential address, Fr Tauro said that Pinto has brought honour to the country. "It’s generally seen that people have the least regard for specially-abled children and the achievement of Pramila Pinto, a student of the Centre, is indeed marvellous," he added.
TP president Devdas Hebbar said that Pinto’s achievement is beyond the expectations of normal persons. "The TP has issued instructions to all gram panchyats under its limits to set aside three percent of their revenue in the annual budgets for the welfare of specially-abled children," he added.
Pinto was accorded a grand welcome at Katpady, near here, on Thursday. She was taken in a procession through B C Road till the Centre in Pamboor where public felicitations were held.
ZP member Stella Ida, Nagarika Samiti district president Nityanand Olakadu, district physically handicapped welfare officer Niranjan Bhat, skating coach Laxminarayan Upadhyaya, Pamboor Holy Cross parish priest Fr Charles Lewis, Pamboor Catholic Sabha unit president William Machado, Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre secretary Dr Gerald Pinto, as well as Pramila Pinto’s parents Robert Pinto and Philomena Pinto were present on the occasion.
The Centre’s trustee Remedia D’Souza rendered the prayers. Principal Thelma Lewis welcomed the gathering. Shiny delivered the felicitation address while Freeda D’Souza compered the programme.