Media Release

Mangalore, Oct 20: It was in the year 1998 that Catholic businessmen, agriculturists and professionals formed Rachana, with an objective of encouraging youth to take up entrepreneurship, for training them in investment and for supporting them with technical backup.

In the last 16 years Rachana has worked to achieve its goals and has trained over 50 youth through Rachana Entrepreneur Development Cell(REDC). The youth who have been trained thereby have started printing press, Nano Taxi, poultry farming, candle manufacturing and other enterprises. Rachana has recognized the successful entrepreneurs, professionals, agriculturists, NRI entrepreneurs and women who have achieved in their distinctive field and brought them into limelight, more so that their example may be emulated by the young and the upcoming.

Rachana had also organized Magnet 2014 Conference in April, which was attended by Catholic achievers from the world over. As a result of this conference a Rachana Cooperative Society and Rachana Venture Capital Fund was formed and Roy Castelino, Dr Norman Mendonca and Louis J Pinto were appointed as executives. The funds saved through conference will be used as seed money for running these associations.

Rachana takes pride in announcing the name of awardees for the year 2014

1. Rachana Woman of the Year - Dr Jeanette Pinto, Mumbai.
2. Rachana Agriculturist of the Year - Mr Stany Veigus, Perar
3. Rachana Entrepreneur of the year - Mr Raphael Sequiera, Mumbai
4. Rachana Professional of the year - Dr Anil Kieth D’Cruz, Mumbai
5. Rachana NRI entrepreneur of the year - Mr. Ligoury D’Mello, Oman

The award ceremony will be held on Sunday November 16 at 6 pm in Milagres Jubilee Hall. The ceremony will be presided over by Dr Aloysius Paul D Souza, Bishop of Mangalore, honourable Minister for Railways, Government of India D V Sadananda Gowda, will be the chief guest. J R Lobo, MLA Mangalore South, Ivan D Souza, MLC and Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP Lok Sabha will be the guests of honour.

Rachana Outstanding Woman Of The Year
Dr Jeanette Pinto is a retired educationist from Mumbai. She was the principal of famous Sophia College and Vice Principal of St Xavier College in Mumbai. Dr Jeanette's work of 15 years as a pro-life activist is well-known. She is the Director of Human Life committee of the Bombay Diocese, which is involved in promoting the dignity of human life from birth to death. A well-known Professor of the History, her work is known in national and international circles. She also authored a book- Indian Widow- from Victim to Victor that was well reviewed. Dr. Jeanette attended seminars internationally on Indo Portuguese History and Info French relationships. She also authored – Slavery in Portuguese India, besides writing for periodicals-Bombay Catholic News week, The examiner and the Teenager. Considering her overall contribution to the society Dr Jeanette Pinto is awarded with Rachana Women of the Year Award.

Rachana Agriculturist Of The Year
Gabrial Stany Veigas, a retired forest official for turning 37 acres into model farm, with innovative farming practices. Planting around 3400 plants of cocoanut, Mango, Rambutan, Cashew, grafted variety of jackfruit and breadfruit, he has in the last ten years converted his land into highly yielding agricultural plot. Mr Gabriel Vas has been awarded with Rachana Agriculturist of the year for introducing sustainable farming practices.

Rachana Entrepreneur Of The Year
Raphael Sequeira, entrepreneur from Mumbai is the managing Director of Mumbai based Reliable group. Making his foray into apparel export, he started his business career and never looked back since then. Starting with 50 employees in 1984, he today employs 900 employees producing about 5500 garments everyday. He also started a real estate venture with Reliable Tech space and Reliable Tech Plaza. Reliable Business Solutions and Services Pvt. ltd owned by him, is an IT and ITES company which will create employment to around 2500-5000 people. Raphael Sequeira is awarded Rachana Entrepreneur of the year for his visionary approach to business and his steadfast commitment for being a reliable partner to his customers.

Rachana Professional Of The Year
Dr Anil Kieth D'Cruz, is Director at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, as well as Professor& Surgeon, Department of Head & Neck Surgery. Dr. Dcruz is a distinguished leader in the field of oncology. He is an elected member on the Board of Directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Geneva. He is currently also on the board of Governors of the Foundation of Head Neck Oncology India. Dr D' Cruz is actively involved in research in Head & Neck cancers and plays a pivotal role in nearly 50 trials to date. He has been Global Principal Investigator as well on the Steering Committee of a number of multicentric, multinational trials. Dr D'Cruz is a much sought after teacher and is also instrumental in initiating the MCH super specialty training course in Head Neck Oncology for the first time in India. He teaches for the Mch training program in Surgical and Head Neck Oncology. Considering his pioneering work in surgery, surgical oncology and related work, Dr Anil Kieth D Cruz is awarded with Rachana Professional of the Year Award.

Rachana NRI Entrepreneur Of The Year
A mechanical engineer by profession Ligoury D Mello chose Oman as his land of opportunity, working there in oil and gas sector. He formed Technofit LLC a specialized company to provide Engineering Solutions in the Oil and Gas sector with local Omani Partners. As a Managing Director of the company, he is the strength and brain behind the success of the group. From a humble beginning of a small business set-up, he steered the company to become an international group spreading its wings into the horizons of other Gulf Countries.

As a philanthropist, he is one of the strongest supporter of the Mangalorean community's cultural, social, and spiritual activities and an ardent supporter of Konkani Culture in Oman. He supports the poor children who have strong desire to go for higher studies, especially girls. Considering his visionary business approach and being pillar of strength to a number of less fortunate, Ligoury D Mello is awarded with Rachana NRI Entrepreneur of the year award.