Media Release

Beltangady, Jun 11: Snehalaya Charitable Trust has set another new milestone by showing what humanity really means in true action by providing housing for the needy.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Snehalaya’s volunteer teams started visiting the needy and the poor at remote places across the district of Dakshina Kannada and reached them in their difficulties. More than 1,000 families were directly interacted, helped, supported and assessed at the ground realities.

One such family was introduced to Snehalaya by the ward head Jerald Moras who is also the parish secretary at Sacred Heart Church, Madanthyar. The unit head of Snehalaya at Madanthyar plunged into action as the situation of the family was pathetic.

A teenaged daughter without a decent house to live, helpless parent, her dad highly diabetic with gangrene on his foot and absolutely no support, was literally in tears when the Snehalaya team visited. The house roof was about to collapse, covered with cheap plastic.

Leo D’Cunha, the beneficiary, had obtained a bank loan of Rs 5 lac and a house structure was raised. The estimated cost assessed by team Snehalaya was Rs 3.50 lac. They took up the responsibility to provide them a decent home.

On April 3, 2020, the half constructed work was resumed and within 30 days the house was completed under the leadership of Santhosh, a civil engineer by profession and the nit head of Snehalaya at Madanthyar.

June 10, 2020, gave all a reason to smile as Snehalaya handed over the house to the family of Leo D’Cunha.

The people friendly, role model police officer Sowmya, sub inspector at Poonjalkatte inaugurated the house at 10 am. Janab Abdul Razak, high priest of Noorulhudajama masjid, Madanthyar, unveiled the name board of the house. It was a pleasant surprise to the gathering that the house was named as Snehalaya by the beneficiary.

Fr Stany Pinto, the assistant parish priest of Sacred Heart Church Madanthyar, blessed the newly built house.

The founder of Snehalaya Joseph Crasta, presented the reasons for reaching out to the needy amidst all challenges, as the team found that this is the mission they are called for and if they cannot reach out they believed that they cannot love the almighty as all are children of God.

SI Sowmya, gave a fantastic message that home is a divine place where love, understanding, comfort and rest is assured. “Identifying the needy and helping them has spelled out the true meaning of 'humanity'. Today, people are self-centric but all have a responsibility to better the society and Snehalaya has given a start to this great thoughtful mission,” she said and congratulated the team and wished them to undertake more projects of this kind. She also tipped the family to make a lively atmosphere towards a love filled home, Snehalaya.

Janab Abdul Razak, appreciated the deep concern Snehalaya showed to the least and the needy and said that all religions promote only love and attend the needs of neighbourhood. He was extremely happy to know about Snehalaya, their discipline in work and applauded the service rendered to society. He fully endorsed the message given by the police officer.

Fr Stany Pinto said, “God works wonders through different people and today a house has turned into a home of love, a beautiful place to live for a family through the efforts of Snehalaya. Their work culture, concern to the needy and completion of their projects in time speaks their professionalism.” He congratulated the stakeholders and invoked God’s blessings.

Joseph Crasta, handed over a token of re-emergence to the beneficiary by handing over the beautiful words, “There is a reason to smile, a home by Snehalaya”.

Melita D’Cunha, the daughter, expressed her gratitude. Each of her words were extremely emotional and touching as there were tears in almost each one’s eyes as she spoke. She thanked Snehalaya, the team who were instrumental in materializing their dream of having a sweet home.

The trustees of Snehalaya, family members of Leo D’Cunha, and the unit members of Snehalaya, enhanced the celebration through their presence.

Geo D’Silva, the head of Snehalaya’s social outreach programme, welcomed the gathering, presenting the key note and compered the programme in his unique entertaining style.

The programme ended with a tea party restricting the guests to 30 members only.