Fr Francis Rodrigues - Raknno
Mangalore, Jan 10: Mabel Rebello, Honorable Member of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha)- Jharkhand and a renowned social activist of Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh states visited Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Bishop of the Diocese of Mangalore, on January 10, Sunday morning. She spoke with the Bishop on general issues concerning the people of India and special issues concerning the Christians in India.
Bishop expressed a cordial welcome to her and congratulated her on behalf of the Diocese of Mangalore for being a renowned social activist in the north in spite of the fact that she hails from Kundapur in undivided Dakshina Kannada district of the state. He specially thanked her for being helpful towards the needs of some of the Christian institutions in Mangalore.
She expressed concern towards the unequal distribution of recourses and facilities in the country due to which naxalism has grown in the country. "We are responsible for the birth of naxalism. The lack of effective leadership and weak bureaucracy are the main causes for the growth of naxalism. People of different religious background are becoming part of naxal groups, she observed.
She was of the opinion that doing justice to Christians or to people of any religious background is not being communal. While we help 99% per cent of the non-Christians there is nothing wrong in in helping Christians, who are just 1%. But the Christians seem to be living in a fear and not ready to come out of their shell. Even some of the political, social and government leaders do not like to be branded as Christians, she says. She is very firm as to not to give any bribe to the officers and leaders to get the things done. She has facts and figures to show that Christian population is decreasing throughout India including Goa.
Mabel Rebello is a postgraduate and also holds DSW (Diploma in Social Work). She had her education at St Joseph's School, Bangalore, St Agnes College, School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya and Bakratulla University, Bhopal. She is a Professional Social Worker. In spite of the many political and social positions on the national level she also champions to fight for the cause of securing one third of the Parliamentary and State Legislative Assembly seats for women. She has traveled wide in and outside the country and addressed huge gatherings on number of social issues.
John Prasad Menezes the former President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and industry, the Diocesan PROs Fr William Menezes and Marcel Monteiro, the Director of St Joseph’s Engineering College Mangalore Fr Valerian D’Souza and others were present on the occasion.
Mable Rebello is in Mangalore to receive prestigious 'Rachana Outstanding Woman of the year' for 2009. The Award presentation will take place at Milagres Jubilee Hall on Jan 10, 2010.