MCC Bank Ltd celebrates 77th Independence day
(Press Release)- MCC Bank celebrated 77th Independence Day at the Administrative Office on 15.08.2023 with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervor, commemorating the nation’s independence from the United Kingdom.
Rev. Fr Bonaventure Nazareth, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Milagres Church, celebrated the Holy Mass on this occasion.
After the Holy Mass, the Independence Day Celebration program began with a prayer song led by Karen Crasta and team.
Chairman, Mr Anil Lobo presided over the program. Mr Sunil Kumar Bajal, social activist and customer of the Bank was the chief guest. Vice Chairman Mr Jerald Jude DSilva, General Manager Mr Sunil Menezes were on the dais.
While welcoming the gathering, Chairman Mr Anil Lobo said that for the first time the Bank celebrated Independence Day on the occasion of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” last year. He said that the Bank is continuing the tradition of celebrating the Independence Day, which is a day to remember and honour millions of freedom fighters who laid their life for the sake of nation’s freedom. He recalled the non-cooperative movement, which acted as a catalyst in attaining the freedom for the country. He added that the Bank, as a responsible financial institution of the nation, has helped the downtrodden and under privileged on the occasion of the Bank completing its 110 years of service. He wished that all other financial institutions follow the example so that the real independence is achieved.
Mr Sunil Kumar Bajal, social activist, Chief Guest of the day hoisted the Flag and said that he is delighted to be part of the celebration of the 76th anniversary of Independence of our country with the management and staff members of one of the premier cooperative banks in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district. He emphasised the need for unity among the citizens of this great nation which has a culture of unity in diversity. He urged the gathering, especially the youth to preserve the sanctity of the constitution and strive for uplifting the poor and marginalized sections of the society to achieve the real essence of freedom.
Mr David DSouza, Mr Herald Monteiro, Mr J P Rodrigues, the directors who are celebrating their birthday in the month of August were felicitated during the occasion. Mr Maxim Lasrado who celebrated his birthday on 14th of August was also felicitated. On this occasion, the staff members sung patriotic songs with lot of zeal and enthusiasm.
Directors, Dr Gerald Pinto, Andrew Dsouza, Anil Patrao, Elroy Kiran Crasto, Roshan Dsouza, Marcel Dsouza and Irene Rebello, Professional Directors Sushanth Saldanha and Clement G Pinto, Members of Board of Management Sharmila Menezes, Felix DCruz, Alwyn P Monteiro were also present on the occasion.
Karkala Branch Manager, Mr Rayan Praveen K, compered the program. General Manager Mr Sunil Menezes proposed the vote of thanks. All the participants were served with high tea.
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Supreme Court rejects plea for reverting to ballots in elections
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking to revert to ballot paper voting in elections in the country.
"What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs (electronic voting machine) are not tampered. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with)," remarked a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale.
Apart from ballot paper voting, the plea sought several directions including a directive to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates for a minimum of five years if found guilty of distributing money, liquor or other material inducement to the voters during polls.
When petitioner-in-person K A Paul said he filed the PIL, the bench said, "You have interesting PILs. How do you get these brilliant ideas?".
The petitioner said he is the president of an organisation which has rescued over three lakh orphans and 40 lakh widows.
"Why are you getting into this political arena? Your area of work is very different," the bench retorted.
After Paul revealed he had been to over 150 countries, the bench asked him whether each of the nations had ballot paper voting or used electronic voting.
The petitioner said foreign countries had adopted ballot paper voting and India should follow suit.
"Why you don't want to be different from the rest of the world?" asked the bench.
There was corruption and this year (2024) in June, the Election Commission announced they had seized Rs 9,000 crore, Paul responded.
"But how does that make your relief which you are claiming here relevant?" asked the bench, adding "if you shift back to physical ballot, will there be no corruption?".
Paul claimed CEO and co-founder of Tesla, Elon Musk, stated that EVMs could be tampered with and added TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, the current chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and former state chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had claimed EVMs could be tampered with.
"When Chandrababu Naidu lost, he said EVMs can be tampered with. Now this time, Jagan Mohan Reddy lost, he said EVMs can be tampered with," noted the bench.
When the petitioner said everybody knew money was distributed in elections, the bench remarked, "We never received any money for any elections."
The petitioner said another prayer in his plea was the formulation of a comprehensive framework to regulate the use of money and liquor during election campaigns and ensuring such practices were prohibited and punishable under the law.
The plea further sought a direction to mandate an extensive voter education campaign to raise awareness and importance of informed decision making.
"Today, 32 per cent educated people are not casting their votes. What a tragedy. If democracy will be dying like this and we will not be able to do anything then what will happen in the years to come in future," the petitioner said.
