Pics: Johnas Sequeira

Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Nov 11: Rachana, Catholic Chamber of Commerce and Industry have announced Rachana awards for 2016 in city on Friday, November 11.

The awards are as follows:

Rachana Woman of the Year- Corrine A Rasquinha
Rachana Agriculturist of the Year- Vincent D'Souza
Rachana Entrepreneur of the year- Vivek Aranha
Rachana Professional of the year - Allen C A Pereira
Rachana NRI Entrepreneur of the year- Martin Aranha

The grand award ceremony will be held on December 4 at 6.30 pm at Milagres Jubilee Hall to present the awards. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore will preside over the function and MLC lvan D’Souza and MLA J R Lobo will be the guests of honour.

Gilbert D'Souza, Elias Sanctis, Norman Mendonca, Eulalia D'Souza, Luliet Mascarenhas and Anil Vas from Rachana were present in the press meet.

Rachana was formed in the year 1998, by Catholic businessmen, agriculturists and professionals jointly with an objective of encouraging youth to take up entrepreneurship, for training in investment and supporting them with technical backup. 

Brief profiles of awardees: 

Rachana Agriculturist of the Year- Vincent D'Souza

First Generation Farmer at Parpikal, Nidle village,Kokkada, Beltangady Taluk. Bought 70 Acres of land from own resources and developed a model farm with both sustainable concept and modern farming techniques. Role Model for youngsters to take up agriculture as a Profession and reap success.  Excellent Agriculture Practices based on organic inputs to keep both the soil and the produce healthy. Has done wonders on the farm in terms of sustainability and productivity. Has developed sound knowledge regarding agriculture machinery and cropping pattems and ready to try out new things.

Hails from farming community. Developed Self Designed Monkey trap in combination with a USB.Loader siren system with calls of Tiger, Dogs and other wild animals. Solar Dryers for drying Arecanut/Cocoa, especially during rainy season.Rubber mat dryer and Areca dehusker. Has plantation of Areca, Cocoa, Rubber, Coconut, Banana, Pepper,Custard apple and exotic fruits like velvet apple, rambutum, mangostein and Jamaican fruit 

Rachana Entrepreneur of the year- Vivek Aranha

A multifaceted personality. Post Graduate from the Pune University MA-Med, is a rank holder in both of his Post Graduate degrees. Rosary Education Group blossomed into a vast institution with 10 Schools, 3 Colleges and a Teachers Training lnstitute. He opened up branches of Rosary School in thickly populated suburbs of Pune. There are more than 14000 students on the rolls of Rosary Schools. He is into hospitality business and opened two restaurants in Pune.YMCA movement since 1983. He has been the Senior National Vice President of YMCA and President of Pune YMCA. Vivek Aranha is the President of he Child Guidance Centre (Remand Home)where more than 300 children from privileged class of society are homed ard looked after.

Former secretary of Pune Amateur Athletic Association and Manager of Maharashtra Athletic team. Arana is a Rotarian for past 25 years and served as District Governor of Rotary District 3131 for the year 2014-15. Set up Dialysis centers at 3 major hospitals and 58 Dialysis machines were donated. Has donated machinery to Fr Muller Hospital, Mangalore. Helped endosulfan victims of Kasargod, Kerala.  Recipient of Life Time Achievement Award from Rotary club of Poona, The Vijaya Laxman Kundale Foundation and Lions club of Pune, Kirkee. 

Rachana Woman of the Year- Corrine A Rasquinha

She founded white doves 17 years back, a home for homeless, mentally challenged and the destitute irrespective of their physical condition, caste creed or religion. Corrine is a singer, musician since 22 years has staged over 378 street shows with 100 artists for the purpose of charity. She is a cancer survivor and battled with hepetitisand sprung back after being in a state of coma. She is cured of cancer and Hepatitis B and provides should of support to people facing serious illness. Renders service for the poor in Government Wenlock and Lady Goshan Hospitals.

White Doves has rehabilitated over 443 destitute and mentally challenged persons. Over 79 children from poor families have been sponsored for their education. Over 200 patients have been treated, presently 14 patients are under their care. White Doves has been feeding the hungry in the streets of Mangalore since 18 years. Built homes for 8 deserving families and financially supported for the repairs of homes. In the process of building a 200 bedded psychiatric care center and Destitute Home for the poor and neglected. She is recipient of many awards.

Rachana Professional of the year - Allen C A Pereira

Pereira is former CMD, Bank of Maharashtra. Post Graduate studies - MSW at School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya Mangalore leading to MSW degree from Mysore University in 1972, with specialization in Labor Welfare & lndustrial Organization joined Syndicate Bank at its head office, Manipal. His service was lent to the lndian Bank's Association(association of 171 public, private and foreign banks) as advisor for lndustrial Relations & Human Resoure Management. Executive Director of the Oriental Bank of Commerce, a large public sector bank with headquarters at Delhi from March 25,2006. Chairman & Managing Director of the Pune-headquartered Bank of Maharashtra.

During the period 2008 to 2010, Bank of Maharashtra scaled new heights of corporate governance, growth, technology usage, customer service and profitability; 153 new branches were opened.Bank of Maharashtra achieved the distinction of being the principal banker to the 3rd Commonwealth Youth Game held in Pune in Oct 2008 and World Billiards Championship held in Pune in 2010. Director,National lnstitute of Bank management, Pune at the invitation of the Reserve Bank of lndia with effect from 1st 2010 and held that Position till January 2014. NIBM is a premier research consulting education and Training lnstitute for Banking in INDIA set up by the Reserve Bank of lndia and other banks.He has won many awards in his profession and for the service to the society.

Rachana NRI Entrepreneur of the year- Martin Aranha

Martin Aranha is the founder and Managing Director/CEO of Globelink West Star Shipping LLC, a Dubai-based freight fowarder.An accomplished logistics entrepreneur who has founded and led a number of business ventures to success He hails ffom Chitrap, Mulki and spent part of his childhood in Mangalore where he completed his primary education. He spent a brief period of time working in Bombay before launching his career in Dubai in 1973. Aranha's shipping career took off in Dubai in 1974 at Gray, Mackenzie & Co. Ltd. (presently known as Inchcape Shipping).

He founded West Star Shipping LLC in Dubai in 1989. West Star Shipping, embracing the dynamism of Dubai, channelled the city's rapid development to generate its own growth story.ln 2005, West Star Shipping partnered with CWT Globelink to form a joint venture creating Globelink West Star Shipping LLC. CWT Globelink is subsidiary of the CWT group, a Singapore publicly listed company and one of the largest logistics and trade conglomerates in Asia. Aranha holds a Master of Business Administration from City University London (Cass Business School) and is a Fellow of the lnstitute of Chartered Shipbrokers in London, an advanced professional qualification from the only internationally recognized commercial maritime organization worlwide which was founded in 1911.