M'luru: NRI Michael D'Souza family launches 'Educare Endowment' fund to aid underprivileged students
Mangaluru: Mangalore Diocese Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha on Monday launched the 'Educare Endowment Fund,' established at CODP (Canara Organisation for Development and Peace) by non-resident Indian and 'Vision Konkani' pioneer Michael D'Souza and his family.
At the CODP hall in Nanthoor, Bishop Saldanha lit the lamp and symbolically handed over interest-free loans to talented students. The Bishop noted that since 2013, Michael's financial assistance for empowering the weaker sections of the community has instilled hope within society.
"This initiative aims to motivate more students in the community, with the understanding that they will repay the aid after securing employment.
Visionary projects like this are crucial for uplifting the weaker sections of society, likening it to the saying that a country without vision will be destroyed," he added.
Nisha D'Souza, Michael D'Souza's daughter, expressed her happiness in continuing the project that started 10 years ago to support talented students from underprivileged families within the community. Flavia D'Souza, Michael's wife, and Valerian D'Souza were also present.
Director of CODP, Vincent D'Souza, delivered the welcome and introductory speech, while Counselor Richard Alvaris moderated the program. Coordinator Reena D'Costa delivered the vote of thanks.
A donation check of Rs. 75 lakh was presented during the event by Michael D'Souza and his family to CODP, which will be used to provide financial assistance to 84 students pursuing higher education, including MBBS and Engineering, this year.
"Michael D'Souza has been providing this financial assistance for the past 12 years, benefiting 3,300 individuals so far. The scheme is currently managed by CODP. Aid is granted to students with the condition that it will be repaid within one and a half years after completing their education," stated Vincent D'Souza.
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Bus helper held for stealing USD 1,600 from Iranian woman's purse in Delhi; money recovered
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a bus helper and recovered USD 1,600 that was allegedly stolen from the purse of an Iranian woman who had forgotten it on a private bus at ISBT Kashmere Gate, an official said on Sunday.
The incident came to light on December 15, when a complaint was lodged at the ISBT Kashmere Gate police post by Dr Ali Akbar Shah, a professor at Delhi University and a resident of Mukherjee Nagar, the police said.
He informed police that his guest, Fareshteh Sayanjali, an Iranian national, had arrived in India on December 13 and was staying at his residence, they said.
The woman had travelled to Uttarakhand's Rishikesh and was returning to Delhi on December 15 in a bus. While de-boarding at ISBT Kashmere Gate around 1.45 pm, she inadvertently left her purse on the bus seat, the police officer said.
After some time, she received a phone call from the bus operator informing her that the purse had been found in the vehicle. However, when the purse was handed back to her, she discovered that USD 1,600 in cash kept inside was missing," the officer added.
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Based on Dr Shah's statement, an FIR was registered at Kashmere Gate police station on December 16, and an investigation was taken up, police said.
During the investigation, the team questioned the driver and conductor of the bus in which the woman had travelled, police said.
During questioning, the conductor told police that Monish, the bus helper, found the purse lying abandoned on a seat and handed it over to him, police said.
Monish initially attempted to mislead the investigators, but later confessed to stealing the US dollars from the purse, police said
Following his disclosure, Monish was arrested on December 17 and recovered the entire stolen amount, police said.
The accused, Monish, 26, is a resident of Jahangirpuri in north Delhi.
He has studied up to Class 10 and has been working as a helper with the private bus service for the past year, they said.
