Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Nov 7: Chief operating officer (COO) of UAE Exchange Sudhir Kumar Shetty Perla on Tuesday November 7 was honoured with the 'Pingara Rajyotsava Award' in a ceremony held at Town Hall here. The programme was organized by Pingara Weekly.

Addressing the gathering, bishop of Mangaluru diocese, Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, "It is heartening to see Sudhir Kumar Shetty receive the Pingara Rajyotsava Award. He truly deserves this award. He has contributed a lot to society and has achieved success in business over the past several years. Myriad people achieve but very few get recognized, and out of 23 achievers who were shortlisted this year, Sudhir Kumar Shetty was chosen for this award."

Acknowledging the honour, Sudhir Kumar Shetty said, "I thank everyone for giving me this award. UAE Exchange was first spearheaded by B R Shetty. I owe him this award. About 33 years ago, UAE Exchange was in pathetic condition but once B R Shetty took over, it strengthened and burgeoned across the world, setting up over 2 lac branches and 800 direct branches which provided service to people to transfer money from one country to other within minutes."

MLA J R Lobo said, "Sudhir Kumar Shetty is the right person to be awarded with Pingara Rajyotsava. Sudhir Shetty was chosen for this award for his kindness and good nature. This award gives a strong message to people that those who achieve will be recognized. This also encourages others to achieve something in life."

Former president of Konkani Sahithya Academy Roy Castelino, Harikrishna Punaroor, editor of Pingara Weekly Raymond D'Cunha and others were present.

Roy Castelino, Harikrishna Punaroor, Fr William Menezes, former general manager of corporation bank C J Pinto, district president of journalist union Jagannath Shetty Bala, Kudroli temple development committee member Dr B G Suvarna, Akashavani programme executive Sadananda Perla were the jury members for this year’s Pingara Rajyotsava Award.

Sudhir Kumar Shetty hails from Perla in Kasargod district. He graduated from St Aloysius College and later became chartered accountant. He has been serving in UAE Exchange for the past 25 years.