Mangalore: Snehalaya - Making the world a better place
 
Vineeth Monis
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
 
Mangalore, Dec 17: In the cynical world that we live in, bringing a positive outlook in one’s own life often seems like an impossible task.  Meet Joseph Crasta, a person who has, against all odds, made a positive impact in the lives of the less fortunate.

Known for serving the poor, the sick and the destitute, Joseph, a driver, changed his life for the betterment of others.

Joseph’s life took a turn in the year 2006 after he saw a woman drinking dirty water from the fish market drainage. Looking at her, the words of Jesus from the Bible resounded in his mind and heart- ‘when I was hungry you fed me’. Immediately he rushed her to a nearby hotel and fed the woman. He then started distributing five meal packets a day to the destitute found in public places and currently he distributes meals to around 20 people.

Initially, whenever he met sick patients, he used to admit them to Wenlock Hospital, Mother Theresa Ashram, White Doves, and other orphanages. But orphanages could not accommodate them all as they were too many in number.

Later in 2009, he received Rs 14 lac as share in his father’s property from which he bought 21 cents of land at Kunjathur, Thuminadu, in Talapady. On the birthday of Mother Theresa, August 27, he began his work in the new place calling it ‘Snehalaya’, with two inmates, washing and cleaning their wounds and taking care of them.

In his new sanctuary, he accommodated the destitute who were mentally challenged or suffering from various diseases. Until now, he has changed the lives of over 30 people (including one from Nepal) by treating them and once cured, by sending them to their respective destinations. Joseph is a happily married man with two children. He says his family is completely supportive of his service towards the destitute. Joseph is helped by various people, associations, the builder fraternity, and businessmen in some way or the other; through cash or kind.

Every Monday, vegetable vendors of Central Market provide free vegetables while fish traders from Mangalore provide free fish twice or thrice a week. Yenepoya Medical Hospital provides free treatment and an employee from Mangalore provides chicken on Sundays and so on. However, Snehalaya Trust does not have a permanent fund nor does it receive support from the government.

Despite offering his service for a good cause, Joseph was opposed by some people. Recently, members of the Nagarika Samiti, along with locals, even raided the place and around 14 false cases were booked against him in a Kasargod court. However, the court dismissed the allegations and declared the complaints false.

Joseph’s service did not stop and he took yet another bold step of constructing the 4,000 square feet Snehalaya Old Age Home and Rehabilitation Center at Pavoor in Manjeshwar where around 100 needy people can be accommodated. The cost for the project land is Rs 50 lac and a building is being constructed at a price of Rs 50 lac. The project is almost complete and will be inaugurated soon.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Joseph said that he has received massive support from various benefactors in all his work. Although people have jobs in multi national companies, I derive job satisfaction through service to the needy.

Fr Andrew D’Souza, parish priest of Pakshikere Church, said that Joseph is a hard working individual with the good intention of helping the poor. “We must render support to such a person as he needs as much help as he can get,” he added.

Abdul Puttige from Talent Research Foundation, who is a supporter of Joseph in his work, appreciated him and said that he is a gentlemen with the true purpose of serving the destitute.

Contact

Joseph Crasta - 0091 - 9036451931