Media Release

Bantwal, Jul 27: Under the leadership of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Bantwal deanery. With the support of the Dakshina Kannada Minority Welfare Department and Corporation, and the Christian Development Corporation, an awareness camp was inaugurated on the benefits available to minorities by MLC Ivan D’Souza.

He encouraged the gathering to understand the facilities provided by the Minority Welfare Department and the Christian Development Corporation and urged everyone in the community to make efforts to avail these government schemes. He called upon the Catholic Sabha to take the lead and ensure all deserving beneficiaries receive the benefits.

Delivering the blessing and speaking on the occasion, Fr Victor D’Souza, the spiritual director of the Catholic Sabha, emphasised that all churches and deanery units should take responsibility in ensuring that the eligible beneficiaries from the minority communities receive the entitled facilities.

Santosh D’Souza, president of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, participated as a chief guest and congratulated the president, office bearers, and members for organizing the awareness camp and for working toward providing facilities to minorities.

Another chief guest, Pius L Rodrigues, stated that merely providing information about the benefits from the Christian Development Corporation and other minority-related schemes is not enough. He highlighted that many in our community struggle to avail RTC and other government benefits, and requested the Catholic Sabha to take responsibility to assist such people in the coming days.

Arun Roshan D’Souza, another chief guest, appreciated the Bantwal deanery of the Catholic Sabha for organizing the camp and remarked that the community is not coming forward to claim the benefits available for minorities and from the government. He said such awareness camps are necessary.

Stany Lobo, former central president and political coordinator, spoke as another chief guest and mentioned that under the leadership of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, two meetings have already been held to plan out strategies to ensure all eligible beneficiaries receive benefits from the minority welfare department, Christian Development Corporation, and the government. He urged all units and members of the Catholic Sabha to take leadership and ensure the community members get these benefits.

Manjunath R, district manager, provided detailed information on the benefits available from the Minority Welfare Department.

Yashodhar J, district manager, shared information on the schemes from the Minority Corporation and the Christian Development Corporation.

The programme was presided over by John Lasrado, deanery president, who welcomed the gathering. Austin Lobo, deanery secretary, proposed the vote of thanks. The event was compered by Kelvin Fernandes from the Bambil unit.