Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore / Bangalore (MB)

Mangalore / Bangalore, May 5: Mohini Appaji Naik (64), a senior social worker, founder of Mangalajyoti Integrated School-Vamanjoor and wife of city's one-time hotelier Appaji Naik, passed away in Bangalore on Friday, May 4, following a brief illness.

Having had a committed concern for the differently-abled children, Mohini had set up an integrated school meant for them, initially in the Roshni Nilaya premises, 26 years ago.

During the tenure of the late Gundu Rao as chief minister, she had a five-acre land in Vamanjoor sanctioned by the state government. Later during the tenure of the late Ramakrishna Hegde as chief minister, the school was granted another five acres of land. She got built a modern, full-fledged and well-formed school campus, with the help of donors from the country and abroad.

With the district's deputy commissioner as ex-officio president of the school committee, she had served as its secretary for long.

It was only owing to her illness that recently she had handed over the school to the management of the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara eductional institutions.

Before the city corporation came into existence, Mohini had served as chairperson of the town planning council for three years. Besides, she had also served in various organizations in different capacities.

Her family, which resided in Vas Lane in the city for long, had only recently sold off the Hotel Woodside owned by it, and had shifted the residence to Bangalore. It was there that her end came.

In recognition of her dedicated service, Mohini had been honoured with national award by the union ministry of human resources in 2006.