Walter D’Souza, Florine among Rachana Awards 2012 winners

Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 06 Nov 2012: Florine Pinto from Perne in Bantwal taluk is all set to become the first woman farmer to receive the Rachana Awards in the category agriculturist of the year. A progressive agriculturist, Florine will join Hilda Rayappan (woman of the year), Walter D’Souza (entrepreneur of the year); Oscar G Concessao (professional of the year), and Mark Denis D’Souza (NRI entrepreneur of the year) in receiving the awards in respective categories.

 

 

A panel of 15 eminent members from Catholic community have selected the awardees for Rachana - forum of Catholic businessmen, professionals and entrepreneurs. What makes Florine’s selection special is that she is the first woman selected to receive the award in her category. Rachana first set up these awards in 1992 to encourage youth from the Catholic community to enthuse them to reach and excel levels set by the achievers.

 

Roy Castelino, president of Rachana told reporters that Hilda, founder of Prajna Counselling Centre has been selected for her outstanding contribution in the field of social service for over three decades. She has helped over 6,000 cases of women and girls in distress, he said. Florine has carved a niche for herself by taking up cultivation of high yielding crops such as paddy, coconut, pepper and other tropical crops, making her one of a kind.

 

Walter is an importer of raw cashew nuts and leading exporter of cashew kernels and shell liquid from India. He is the winner of best exporter award for cashew nut shell liquid from the state government. Oscar Concessoa, a Masters in B.Arch from University of Oklahoma, USA is one of the few doctorates in modern architecture. Mark’s Fortuna Engineering Works is one of the leading companies in the Gulf providing employment to locals there.

 

Also Read: Prof. Hilda Rayappan: Providing A Healing Touch For Those In Distress