Fr Terence Farias
Raichur, Feb 24: A total of 127 newly-built houses for flood victims of Manvi and Sindanoor taluks were inaugurated on Thursday February 23.
These houses were built by The Centre for Non Formal and Continuing Education (CNF&CE) an NGO run by the Jesuits of Karnataka, in Manvi, Raichur district, for needy people irrespective of caste, creed, and religion.
The Jesuits have been working in the remote corner of the district for the past 10 years and have been instrumental in starting a CBSE school and a PU college for Dalits, where more than 1,500 students from 65 villages are being educated.
Manvi MLA Hampayya Nayak, former MLA and KPCC secretary Bosraj, former MLA and CADA president Basavan Bagvat, former MLA Gangadar Nayak, Pannur Mission superior Fr Terence Farias, Jagir Pannur parish priest Fr Maxim, CNF&CE director Fr Eric Mathias, and civic authorities were present.
Hampayya Nayak, speaking on the occasion, reiterated his appreciation of the Jesuit Fathers’ commitment to the cause of the poor and added that they have shown to these people where God is really found. He appreciated the commitment of Pannur Jesuits for setting aside their CBSE school for Dalits, the untouchables, ‘Deavadasi’ children, and a preferential option for the village girls.
Bosraj, the former MLA, was all praise for the quality of the new houses built with great care and love. He appreciated the quality of whatever is done for the poor. He assured the Jesuits of his full support in their ventures for the betterment of village people.
Basavan Bagvat reiterated these views. More than a thousand people gathered for the programme from various villages.
Fr Farias welcomed the gathering and thanked all guests for the support assured by them.
The well-planned and neatly-built houses were appreciated by all. Children of the village staged various cultural programmes that were appreciated by all.
The Jesuit Mission of Pannur, Karnataka, includes a health centre effectively run by the St Joseph’s of Tarbes Sisters of Mysore Province, a school and a college, and extensive social work in about 75 villages. Considering the recent deaths of several little children on account of malnutrition in Raichur district, a nutrition programme for the children of 50 villages is being worked out.