John D'Silva Bags Dr T M A Pai Outstanding Konkani Award 2008

by Ancy Paladka - Daijiworld Media Network

Mumbai, Nov 26: The Crusader of Co-Operative banks John Anthony D'Silva has bagged the prestigious Dr T M A Pai Outstanding Konkani Award 2008. The award ceremony will be held on January 15, 2008 at Manipal.

D'Silva, the founder president of Fuddar Pratishtan had also bagged "Industrialist of the year" award from the Rachana foundation last year. He is an ace banker, Social worker, educationalist, philanthropist, Konkani buff, sports enthusiast, endless source of strength and inspiration. He is the man who started four banks, namely, Abhyudaya Co-op Bank Ltd, Citizen Credit Co-op Bank Ltd, New India Co-op Bank Ltd and Model Co-op Bank Ltd. All these banks have several branches in and around Mumbai.

D’Silva was born on May 16, 1936 in a small hamlet of Karkala in Mangalore. He came to Mumbai to seek his fortune, made an indelible mark in the world of co-operative banking and earned name and fame all over India.

He is the founder of Abhyudaya Education Society which was founded in 1964. He started a school in the name of the society as his residential area was starving for facility for schooling. Today this school has branched out into two and boasts of strength of over 4,000 students from KG to SSC and a junior college, with teaching and non-teaching staff numbering over 100 with Marathi and English mediums. 

Apart from starting four major co-operative banks and education society that are mentioned above, he is also a promoter Maharashtra Urban Co-operative Banks' Federation Ltd,  director of National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks & Credit Societies Ltd. New Delhi, Advisory Committee Member of RBI’s College of Agricultural Banking, visiting faculty – RBI’s College of Agricultural Banking, Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Co-op Management, Chairman of Lokmitra Sahakari Mudran Prakashan Sanstha Maryadit, honorary secretary of Indian Banks' Association, founder secretary, Banks Sports Board of Indian Banks Association, Chairman, RBI committee on Extension of Bombay Bankers Clearing House, Member, Mumbai housing and Area Development Board, chief editor of Co-operative Banks Dairy’ since 1976, chief editor, Urban Banks all India Directory since 1998, chairman since 1996, Mangalorean Catholic Co-op Educational Society Ltd., Mumbai, director, Navi Mumbai Sports Association since 1992 and the director of Maharashtra State Co-op Housing Finance Corporation Ltd.

D'Silva is an tireless worker who has a very long foresight for the development and upliftment of his community. Being a president of Fuddar Pratisthan he is working a strategy to get a minimum income for every family in his community. He is educating people to develop economically, socially and politically. He is encouraging them to get into civil services, defence services, railways, posts etc. "Earlier number of our people were in the high ranking posts in railways and post offices. But we have nobody now. We need to work hard to grab these positions. Right now lady police officers are in demand. Our girls should apply to these positions" says D’Silva.

"Our people are interested only in getting involved church activities. They do not take part in other social organizations in their localities. They should also become member of the social associations and get elected in their positions. Because elected members' demands have much weightage."

"We have too many religious orders and all our dioceses are independent and they do not have interactions. There should be a coordinating body among religious sisters and priests for the development of the society." he suggests.

"Other communities have defence schools. But no military school is available in our area. No central board schools. We do not have patriotism. No political training. Jains go to temples five times and still they lead in business activities. But we are away from business. Our ladies waste their potentials by becoming mere housewives. Though we are in considerable number in number of pockets of our land, we do not become vote bank because our people distance them from politics. We need to come out of all these hurdles" he points out.

D'Silva is married to Gladys in 1965. He has two sons. The eldest one Amalanand is an electronic engineer and the second one Amithanand is an computer engineer. As the Financial Express puts it John D'Silva has been carrying on an incessant crusade for securing a fair deal for co-operative banks in the country. His persistent appeals and never-say-die attitude, inborn urge for social service, dynamism, dedication and devotion to hard work have paid rich dividends to the society.