Mangalore: Caesars' Lawrence D'Souza, Sr Maria Goretti Among Rachana Awardees

Pic: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)

Mangalore, Nov 10: The ninth Rachana Awards- 2011 instituted by Rachana Catholic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a registered body founded in 1998, will be conferred on five noted individuals.
 
The awardees are Sr Maria Goretti, Mother General, SRA, Austria (Rachana Outstanding Woman of the Year), Paul Tauro, Madyanthyar, Belthangady (Rachana Agriculturist of the Year), Richard Rodrigues (Rachana Entrepreneur of the Year), C T J Gonsalves, Mangalore (Rachana Professional of the Year) and Lawrence D'Souza, Kuwait of Caesars Group (Rachana NRI Entrepreneur of the Year).

The process of choosing the personalities for the awards began with Rachana calling for suggestions from the public through the media.
 
A jury comprising CA Rudolf Rodrigues, Dr Meera Aranha, Dr Ronald Fernandes, Pradeep D’Souza, Casmir Menezes, Roy Castellino, Marjorie Texeira, Austin Peres, Louis J Pinto, Capt John Prasad Menezes, Ronald Gomes, Joe Coelho, John D’Silva and Marcel Monteiro was constituted to choose the awardees.
 
The awards will be presented at a grand ceremony scheduled to be held at Milagres Jubilee Hall in the city on Sunday Novemver 27 at 6 pm, the organizers said at a press meet here on Thursday November 10.

Dr Christy Fernandez, IAS, secretary to the president of India, New Delhi will be the chief guest. Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Bishop of Mangalore, will preside over the function.
 
President Marcel Monteiro, vice-president Lancy Mascarenhas, secretary Raymond D’Cunha, treasurer Dr P N Veigas, immediate past president Ronald Gomes were present at the press conference.

About the Awardees

Rachana Outstanding Woman of the Year – Sr Maria Goretti

 
Sr Maria Goretti was the initiator and first coordinator of the Dharmajyothi Social Centre in Vamanjoor which built over 900 houses for the poor and the marginalized.
 
Her notable contributions in Karwar Diocese are establishment of the Marie Vianney Home in Honavar for abandoned children, the establishment of the sponsorship programme through which helped over 5000 children, the formation of ‘ children’s clubs’ in various villages to identify and promote the talents of the children with learning, the commencement of ‘alternative’ teaching for children with learning disabilities along with a nutrition programme, the establishment of study loan sponsorship programme to help students from under privileged backgrounds to pursue college and professional education, youth animation through rural development (YARD) centre in Haliyal, Uttar Kannada, and the establishment of computer centres under the National Institute of Continuing Education at many towns in Karwar.
 
She also established several institutions such as School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre, a Technical Training Institute for the physically challenged children in Bidar and an English Medium School and Pre-University College in Shimoga district.
 
Sr Gorretti was the recipient of the Sandesha Award in 2000 and the Gratias Agit Award from the Czec Republic in 2004.

She was appointed Mother General of the Queens of the Apostles (SRA) congregation, Austria, in 2006. In 2002 she was elected Provincial Superior of Karnataka-Goa Province with headquarters at Vamanjoor

Rachana NRI Entrepreneur of the Year – Lawrence D’Souza Kuwait

 
Founder of Caesars chain of restaurants and confectioneries around Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain and other parts of the world, Lawrence D'Souza is one of the most respected entrepenuers in the community.

D'Souza is currently residing in Kuwait.

He owns more than 24 A-grade restaurants around Kuwait, Dubai, Bahrain and other Gulf countries, and more than 35 famous confectionary outlets.
 
About 1,200 workers, from helpers to general managers in his companies are from the undivided South Kanara district
 
He has generously contributed to various philanthropic causes in and around DK and Udupi districts.

Rachana Entrepreneur of the Year – Richard Rodrigues

 
Richard Rodrigues is the managing partner of M/s Karnataka Agencies, Mangalore, established in 1976, which operates at nice locations in four districts with over 425 employees.
 
The strength of the partnership which survived for 30 long years without any hitch is itself a success of Karnataka Agencies which can be attributed to the highest degree of personal and corporate integrity, honesty, hard work, trust in its employees and a strong self belief.
 
Karnataka Agencies also has evolved as a responsible corporate for social causes. Also worth mentioning is their effort in upgrading of skills of St Joseph's ITI and a commitment to absorb the entire output. Also, an annual programme for a month with RUDSETI an institution sponsored by Dharmastala which runs a programme to train members belonging to the bottom of the pyramid is fully supported by KA.
 

Rachana Professional of the Year – CTJ Gonsalves, Mangalore

 
His longstanding services as the most senior Catholic chartered accountant in Mangalore include the establishment of the first chartered accountancy firm in the city, enrolled with the controller and auditor general of India.
 
He has been chosen for the award in recognition of his professional uprightness and total adherence to professional ethics and values, apart from his noteworthy support to various social causes, dedication and abiding love of music and his contribution to music with his ability to play as many as nine musical instruments.
 
 
Rachana Agriculturist of the Year – Paul Tauro, Madantyar, Belthangady

 
His well-planned and modern outlook to cultivate high yielding crops such as coconut, areca nut and rubber in his 19 acres of irrigated land, bagged him the Rachana award.
 
He has well planned units of biogas, a composite unit and sprinkler irrigation in his farm land.

He is a first generation agriculturist, an inspiration and role model to aspiring farmers.