Rev. Dr. Sr. Mariola DSouza(BS) of Moodubelle Successfully Defends Her Ph.D. Thesis

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, 31 Dec: Rev. Sr. Mariola D’Souza BS, of Moodubelle and a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany (BS), Mangalore has successfully defended her Ph.D., thesis on 11 December 2018 at a Public Viva-Voce Examination on the Title: “A Study on the Implementation of Food Security Schemes Among the Slum Dwellers of Mangalore City: A Human Rights Perspective” Department of Economics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu under Research Supervisor Dr K Raja Mohan Rao, Professor-cum-Director (Retd) Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, BharathidasanUniversity, Trichirapally, Tamil Nadu.

 

 

The research has focused on the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013. The thesis stresses on a prophetic voice claiming the entitlements of the slum dwellers and also the duty of the Government to respect, protect and fulfil the socio-economic, and cultural rights of the slum dwellers of Mangalore City, inclusive of all the slums of India as well. Sr. Mariola in her theses has highlighted the policy loopholes in the Act and presented the policy recommendation for NFSA 2013 with a purpose to make India free from hunger and malnutrition. The examiners on the completion of the defense strongly recommended for the immediate publication of the research.  

 

The staff and research scholar of the Department of Economics and the Directorate of Centre for study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, congratulated Sr. Mariola.

 

Sr. M Rose Celine BS the Superior  General and her Council, Sr M Cicilia Mendonca BS the Provincial Superior and her council along with other Bethany Sisters congratulated Sr. Mariola for her commitment and focus on the poorest, which  is the hallmark of Bethany Charism and spirituality.

 

 

Being gifted with a large heart for the poor and the down trodden, Sr. Mariola has served at Shubhada Society, a shelter home for women in distress, Jeevandhara Social Service Trust,  and  enabled women to live in human dignity. At present she renders her service as Provincial Councillor of Mangalore Province and Coordinates the Educational Ministry. Her study of Civil Law has enabled her to take up a socio-pastoral approach in building families and restoring human dignity of many irrespective of caste, religion and language. She has two Masters Degrees in Economics and in Human Rights. Being expert in Food Security campaign, she is a member of strategy group of Food for Life Campaign under Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) under World Council of Churches based in Geneva.

 

Sr. Mariola D’Souza BS hails from St. Lawrence Parish Moodubelle. She is the daughter of Salvadore D’ Souza and Christine D’ Souza of St Francis Xavier II Ward.