Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Feb 11: Brother John Menezes, aged 84, is a member of Society of the Divine Word ('Societas Verbi Divini' - SVD) congregation. He lives in a desert land in Rajasthan.

At his age, when most people choose to rest and relax, Br John walks miles and miles on the desert, in the absence of vehicles, in his mission to help the needy. "I am a person who chose the mission of helping the needy. Hence I cannot rest. I will work as long as I can," says Br John. The sand of the desert has made him strong.

Br John was born in 1931 in Venur of Beltangady taluk. He left his home in 1948 to become a religious. Since then he has worked in Madhya Pradesh, Pune, Trichi, Gujarat, Rajasthan and also in Papua New Guinea. He lived in Germany for some years for his specialized technical studies.

Since 1972, his main interest has been to help school dropout boys to train them in mechanical line. He also helps them learn driving and get driving licence.

Five years ago, he sent four Dalit Catholic girls for BSc nursing course and five Dalit girls for BA, B Ed training and for engineering. This is a record in that area when nobody was helping the poor people in their higher education.

Presently Br John is stationed at Nirmal Niketan at Jhadol in Udaipur district of Rajasthan. SVD brothers and priests look after four mission centers in Rajasthan. These are all interior places where the majority of the people are tribals. The tribals do not own any land here, they have houses without windows and doors. They are not educated and their only possessions are plates and cooking pots.

To make the people understand the value of education is not easy. Another problem is providing the aspirants with clothes and kits for education. The children are encouraged to study in the hostel run by Br John Menezes because they cannot go home every day as their houses are very far. Only 40 percent of them can afford to pay school fees though it is only Rs 3,000. None of them can obviously pay hostel fees. The entire burden is on the hostel management to look after the expenses. Only the contributions from donors can help maintain the hostel.

The present hostel is congested and cannot accommodate all the children who want to remain there and study. As many as 235 boys and 150 girls are in the hostel but many of them are sent back because they cannot be accommodated there. Hence Br John has decided to build a new hall to accommodate more students. The proposed plan is going to cost Rs 29 lacs.

Br John says, "I go to Mumbai twice every year seeking financial assistance. People are generous and extend help. But the money is not even enough to look after the expenses related to maintenance of the hostel."

Some donors from Mangaluru have also helped whenever Br John has come to the city. He is looking for help for the hostel project.

Those wishing to support Br John in his mission to help underprivileged children may send their contributions to:

John Menezes
Account number: 0359101004514
Canara Bank
Siyaganj branch, Indore
IFSC: CNRB0000359

Address: Br John Menezes
Nirmala Niketan
Village Leelawas
Jhadol Post
Udaipur District
Rajasthan - 313702
India