Walter Nandalike
Editor-in-chief
Daijiworld.com
Mangalore, Mar 26: It is once again time for us to acknowledge the great humanitarian gesture made by the worldwide readers of daijiworld.com for a special appeal posted earlier this month, of a family that was facing extreme difficult times after their young boy passed away in a road accident.
Stevan Cutinha from Bejai, a 21-year-old student of St Joseph Engineering College, died in an accident near Mulky on Feb 29 night along with his friend Ashwin Peris. The shocking incident plunged both the families into deep sorrow. The Cutinha family, whose plight was presented before the daijiworld readers immediately after the funeral, has received sympathy and support from all corners of the world.
The enormous support has been able to console Cutinha family to some extent, but indeed, cannot compensate the huge loss.
Within minutes after the appeal was put on daijiworld, phone calls began flooding Cutinha family at their residence and Stevan's father on his mobile.
Stevan's mother Molly Cutinha has written down the names of each and every person who called and also the names of those who consoled and contributed by personally visiting their house. It was amazing to see the list of names in her diary - there was no barrier of language, caste, creed, or religion. The names belonged to almost every community in the coastal area!
According to family sources, approximately Rs 8 lac has been received in the beneficiary's account and in the form of cash at Cutinha family within the first two weeks after the publishing of the appeal.
"It is not just financial support, we have received over 500 phone calls within a span of one week in response to the appeal on daijiworld..." says Stany Cutinha, who works at Lourdes Central School as a security guard. The grieving father has nothing but tears when he remembers his son. But then he declares, "I never ever imagined we have such beautiful people around us."
Apart from financial contribution, the humanitarian concern shown by some of our readers is praiseworthy too.
Molly Cutinha who was suffering from knee pain from years, has found a good Samaritan from Dubai. A gentleman from UAE who did not want to disclose his name, visited Cutinha house after reading the appeal and has come forward to sponsor the full expenses of her treatment.
"I never dreamt this... my son Stevan had promised that once he settles down he would provide me the best treatment for my knees...but now Stevan is not around me, but this good Samaritan has come to my house through you... I do not know how to express my feelings. This world is so beautiful, people are so good...I felt the entire world was with me when we the faced most difficult time of our lives..." Molly broke down when daijiworld representative visited her home.
Among her two other sons, the one who has completed welding course but is yet to turn 18, has been offered a job by at least four companies in Dubai and one in Kuwait, after reading on daijiworld the tough times the family was facing. After completing passport formalities, we are sure that Sanjan, Stevan's brother would get a decent job abroad.
Help has also poured in for the two brothers Sujay and Sanjan to continue their education. A person from the USA, and another from Canada have offered to sponsor the entire education of both the boys if they are willing to continue their studies. Sujay is currently doing his BA in an evening college, and is also working for a hotel during day time.
Interestingly, a donor from Doha has contacted daijiworld saying that he is willing to build a house for them, if they own a land. But the family has politely refused the offer. Currently they reside in a house built about 14 years back.
Going by the support that has poured in from all corners, it is easy to see that no one in this world is ever alone. People from coastal region irrespective of religion, are helping each other, thereby setting an example to the world and showing what life is all about.
For the last 11 years, daijiworld has been put forwarding appeals of needy people before its readers. The figure has already approached around Rs 5 crore, and each and every penny has reached the beneficiary's account directly without the intervention of any middlemen.
We at daijiworld assure you that we will continue to do our duty as long as large-hearted readers like you reach out to the needy.
We have great satisfaction in reaching out to this cause, but in no way do we want to take the credit. If Cutinha family feels today that they have got some kind of relief, it's only because of our dear readers....
We salute you.
May Almighty bless us all.
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