Mangalore :  The Rachana Awards for the year 2012 will be conferred on 5 personalities including Prof. Hilda Rayappan with Woman of the Year, Walter D’Souza with Entrepreneur of the Year, Florine Pinto with Agriculturist of the Year, Dr. Oscar G. Concessao with Professional of the Year, and Mark Denis D’Souza of Sharjah with NRI Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Speaking at the press meet held at Press Club on Nov 6, Tuesday Roy Castelino, president of Rachana said that the awards will be conferred at a glittering awards ceremony, which will be held in the Milagres Jubilee Hall on Nov 25 at 6:00 p.m. 

A panel of judges such as Fr. Valerian D’Souza, Marjorie Texeira, Veera Aranha, Captain J. P. Menezes, Dr. Derrick Lobo, Dr. Errol Pinto, Prof. Ivan Lobo, Pradeep D’Souza, CA Rudolf Rodrigues, and others selected the award winners.

Major General (retired) Ian Cardoza, chairman of rehabilitation, ministry of social justice and empowerment, Government of India, will be the chief guest and Mangalore Diocese Bishop Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza will preside over the event

Prof. Hilda Rayappan, will be awarded with the Outstanding Woman of the Year Award, for her contributions in the field of social work for over 3 decades.

Florine Pinto, will be awarded with the Agriculturist of the Year Award for yielding varieties of crops in a 20-acre land.

Walter D’Souza, will be awarded with the Rachana Entrepreneur of the Year Award, for his export business in cashew kernels and shell liquid from India.

Dr. Oscar Concessao, will be awarded with the Professional of the Year Award, for his contribution in the field of eco friendly architecture.

Mark Denis D’Souza, will be awarded with the NRI Entrepreneur of the Year, for providing employment to the people of Mangalore in particular and Indians in general.