Media Release
Bantwal, Sep 8: Mary D'Souza along with her son Phillip D'Souza, a bachelor aged about 42 were residing in a small pump shed for the past ten years at Katathila, Velankani ward, Salethur.
Snehalaya’s unit head, Mauris D'Souza evaluated the situation of the family and the Snehalaya team took up the noble cause of providing a decent house for them.
The Kolnad gram panchayat had sanctioned Rs 75,000 for the house construction and the half-done structure was unattended to for years. On July 20, the Snehalaya team began the work through their social outreach programme and a kind-hearted donor came forward to support the cause.
In just 46 days the completion of the work was done with quality under the local leadership. Fr Henry D'Souza, parish priest of Salethur church blessed the newly constructed house on September 7. This is a wonderful gift to the family on the auspicious occasion of the feast of Nativity of Mother Mary on September 8.
Subhaschandra Shetty, former president of Salethur-Kolnad gram panchayat was the chief guest, who handed over the newly constructed house to the beneficiary. He applauded the humanitarian works of Snehalaya who went out of their way to support the deserving families. He was personally moved when he heard about the various activities of Snehalaya and requested the public to support the institution.
Fr Henry D'Souza invoked gracious blessings upon the house and the people who live here. He briefed about how Snehalaya helped the people of Salethur during the COVID pandemic. "God sent these angels to this place to wipe out the tears of the real needy."
The founder of Snehalaya, Joseph Crasta spoke on the occasion and thanked the donor, well-wishers. He said, "This is the fifth housing project, but the unaccounted thousands of deeds through our volunteers during the difficult times had an offshoot and thus the social outreach programme took its birth.
Geo D Silva welcomed the gathering, presented a brief on Snehalaya, its activities and programmes.
The trustee Olivia Crasta, building committee chief, Santhosh D Souza, Felix Vegas, former vice-president of the church and the well-wishers attended a well planned short ceremonial meaningful programme. All the volunteers were felicitated and a token of appreciation was presented to the guests.
Felix Vegas and the beneficiary Mary D'Souza thanked the guests and the donors.