Mangaluru : Jeeth Milan Roche (Environmentalist); Ullal Padmanabha Shetty (Social worker/Civic Activist); Ajoy D’silva (RTI Activist); Nigel Albuquerque (Social/Civic Activist); and Alfie D’souza ( Journo) Conferred ‘Eminent Nagarika Awards’ by Bharatiya Nagarika Samithi and Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi at a Ceremony held at Hotel Woodlands, Mangaluru on Saturday, 12 September 2020

Bharatiya Nagarika Samithi & Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi, founding members Pradeep Mendonca and Inderjit Singh Rathore handed over the awards. These awards are a good gesture shown by Bengaloreans on Mangaloreans, which express concern of a citizen from one city in the field of Social and Civil Service, of persons in another city, involved in efforts of similar services, need to be recognised and appreciated.

Five person who were given the award, had a common cause, and put in efforts, to bring a change by their contribution in the field of Social and Civic Service, towards the Community, which made them different and egible for the awards, Thanks-a-million, to our new Friends from the Bharatiya/Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi, by this move of theirs, encourages and assures better life in the society, by reminding, that, we the people are also part of Nature, and should learn to stand by each other and grow nature, or else nature will persih us.

The Awards Ceremony, began with Welcome address delivered by Pradeep Mendonca, the Founder of Bharatiya Nagarika Samithi and Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi, followed by National Anthem sung by Miss Adlin D’Silva and Miss Alina D’Silva, both daughters of Ajoy D’silva of Bejai, Mangaluru. Pradeep Mendonca Introduction of Bharatiya Nagarika Samithi and Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi, followed by the Award Ceremony of “Eminent Nagarika” that was conferred on Jeeth Milan Roche (Environmentalist); Ullal Padmanabha Shetty (Social worker/Civic Activist); Ajoy D’silva (RTI Activist); Nigel Albuquerque (Social/Civic Activist); and Alfie D’souza ( Journo)

Mr Jeeth Milan Roche, Member of MCC Civic Group, “Environment Warrior”, Achievement of Awards from State and National, His services, includes Planting trees in cemeteries and Crematoriums in Mangaluru, Barren government lands, City Roads, State and National Highways, Railway lands, School and College Premises and creating a mini forest.

Ajoy D’Silva Co-Founder, MCC Civic Group is an RTI activist. He has a natural talent with knowledge he had gained,to do Social Audit of civil work like road, storm water drain, foot path, buidling, plumbling work, which is done by govt agencies in Mangaluru, and found irregularities. He found that resolving civic problems by institutionalizing citizen participation via Ward Committees and Area Sabhas. Inspite of a diehard appraoch of the MCC Civic Group, it had to take the legal route of filing a Writ Petition no.53244 of 2018 to successfuuly make Mangaluru City Corporation pass resolution for formation of ward committees and area sabhas in Mangalure. Ajoy D’Silva is also the present General Secretary of Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL DK.)

Ullal Padmanabha Shetty, an Active Member of MCC Civic Group,is a Retired AEE from Mangaluru City Corporation,. is an asset, with a rock solid support to the cause, with the vast information he possesses. He too had pursued Ward Committee and Area Sabha in Mangaluru City Corporation. He is considered as an one man army with his practical appraoch. He has disseminated, a lot of information on civic issues through video clips. Padmanabha Ullal lives a Psychological age, and not chronological age, that really makes a difference in him, while pursuing his zeal..

Nigel Albuquerque Co-founder, MCC Civic group with like-minded Ajoy D’Silva, have addressed the various civic issues, citizens face across Mangaluru in the last five years, since it was founded.. However, they quickly found that permanent solution lies in institutionalizing citizen participation via Ward Committees and Area Sabhas. Nigel said Mangalore will become the 2nd city statewide to have Ward Committee across 60 wards, after Bangalore which has functional Ward Committee in all 198 wards.Mangalore is the first and only city statewide to have the 2nd tier of Citizen Consultation – 121 Area Sabhas in MCC.

Nigel: proudly stated, that about 5 years back, Ajoy D’silva and himself had formed a like-minded citizens initiative called MCC Civic Group, in order to address to several multiple civic problems , which citizens faced across Mangaluru..However he said, we found that only way to resolved civic problems, on a permanent basis, was bring in Citizen Participation via Ward Committees and Area Sabhas in the true spirit of the 74th Costitutional Amendment of 1992, supplemented by the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Act of 2011.

Upon meeting a deadlock repeatedly approaching the respective authorities in Mangaluru City Corporation for regulatory compliance, we switched to the judicial route, successfully moving High Court of Karnataka in Bengaluru, which ordered for Ward Committees and Area Sabhas in Mangaluru City Corporation which is awaiting judicial compliance inspite of resloution passed by the Mangalore City Corporation on 13th August, 2020. I must take this opportunity to express that Shri Padmanabha Ullal, Retd AEE, MCC, having pursued WC & AS in MCC amid wafer thin support . said, Nigel.

Alfie D’souza, Born in Mangaluru, and worked abroad for nearly 24 years is also an Member of MCC Civic Group, has been covering Civic issues for a news Portal, with a desire to bring awareness among the people

A momento, Citiation and a shawl and more importantly a sapling of a plant were presented to each awardee, by the Founders of the samithi. Inderjit Singh Rathore, the Co-Founder Bharatiya/Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi. gave vote of thanks

Bharatiya Nagarika Samithi and Bengaluru Nagarika Samithi based at No. 46, BHEL Officers Layout, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru-560041, is a movement for the improvement of life in the society. Initially started to help Senior citizens by getting senior citizen cards and Voter ID’s to many Nagariks; Conducted programmes to Orphanages and Senior Citizens Home, which we are still continuing.