from Daijiworld team in Chelair - Pics by Praveen Tauro Kulshekar
Mangalore, Jan 29: It's just over a year since a young woman, Savita Coelho, lost her life in the ripple-effect of the Tsunami disaster at the Suratkal beach north of Mangalore city.
The rock in the middle at the Suratkal lighthouse beach was the mute witness to the tragedy (file pic Dayanand Kukkaje)
While she was the lone bread-winner of the family, on the other hand the condition of the family and their ramshackle house was indeed pathetic. The media took note of it. While Raknno Konkani weekly report created awareness at the local and community level, Daijiworld's spot report with tell-tale pictures touched the hearts of hundreds of people at the national and international level. Aid started pouring in from all across the world.
Savitha's brother Nelson, mother Lily and sister Maria at the new house
In April 2005, the entire bunch of cheques - no cash collection was made to ensure transparency - received by Daijiworld offices in Mangalore and Dubai in favour of a joint account in the names of the mother of the deceased and the Mukka parish priest were handed over to the Mukka church. The magnitude of donations galvanized the good-hearted persons in Mukka, like the parish council, the SVP society, ICYM and other organizations to get going on the project of building a house for Savita's distraught family, quite away from the seashore.
Fr Harold blessing the new house
Fervent appeals to the government resulted in the grant of a 5-cent land in Chelair, two kilometres to the east of the national highway. The construction began in right earnest. Within about eight months, a compact, yet sturdy concrete house has come up on the land granted by the government.
The new house
The blessing and house-warming ceremony was held on the evening of Sunday, January 29. The committee did not fail to invite Daijiworld to the function. The contribution in efforts to make a good collection from donors all over the world on the part of Raknno and Daijiworld was gratefully mentioned at the function.
A section of the gathering
Mukka parish priest Fr Harold D'Souza, but for whose initiataive and efforts, the house would not have come up so soon, blessed the house. Abraham Rodrigues welcomed the gathering. Flavy Rodrigues compered and also gave a report on donations received. Lawrence Rodrigues proposed a vote of thanks.
Daijiworld's Resident editor Richie Lasrado, marketing executive Praveen Tauro and Raknno office general manager Percy Noronha were among those present.
The total collections received in the bank in response to the Daijiworld's appeal were around Rs 3 lac-plus. This does not include donations received by the family direct from donors and philanthropists. The cost of the house is said to be Rs 2.60 lac so far, with some additional work like the compound wall pending.
A memento for contractor Chandrahas
The family of Savita Coelho has told Daijiworld that because of communication problems, they are not in a position to thank the donors individually and therefore has requested our website to thank them.
So, here we are, doing our duty of thanking all the donors who responded to the appeal published by us.
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