Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, said on Saturday that the Christian missionaries had played a vital role in providing education and healthcare facilities in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts.
He was speaking after inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of Milagres College and Milagres PU College at Kallianpur, near here. Mr. Madhwaraj said that in a recent survey of Human Development Index, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts were found next only to Bengaluru. These two districts were now well known for quality education and healthcare centres. In fact, the quality of healthcare in these two districts could be compared to that of Europe. “The foundation for all this was laid by the Christian missionaries, who had started schools and hospitals in these two coastal districts,” he said.
Mr. Madhwaraj said that the Milagres College was founded in 1967 by D.J. D’Souza.
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“Today, there were a large number of students getting educated here. This showed the vision of the founder. It was befitting the college was located in a place, which also housed the Milagres Cathedral having a history of over 300 years,” he said.
Mr. Madhwaraj lauded the initiative of the college in starting the ‘Milagres Golden Jubilee Educational Fund for the Students’, through which it intended to educate the poor students.
The college was intending to raise Rs. 1 crore for the fund. “It will prove to be a boon for the poor students,” he said.
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Fr. Stany B. Lobo, correspondent of the college, welcomed the gathering. Gerald Pinto, college principal, read the report. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Catholic Diocese, presided over the function.
Janaki Brahmavar, Chairperson of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and an alumnus of the college, Savitha Kumari, principal of Milagres PU College, and Lawrence C. D’Souza, secretary of Catholic Education Society, were present.
Golden Jubilee celebrations of Milagres College inaugurated