Udupi, 09 July 2011: As a coincidence of situations, while the coastal girl Ashwini Shetty who was once praised by the whole country but is now accused for the failure of doping test, here another coastal Golden Girl Pramila Joyce Pinto has returned back to Udupi. Our normal athletes usually express their innocence and their lack of knowledge about the drugs that containing steroids.
But the simple, innocent special child Pramila do not even know that there are drugs exists that contains steroids and some sports persons use them. She has won 1 Gold and 2 Bronze medals in roller skating competitions in the recently held Special Olympics for specially-abled children at Athens, Greece and has returned back. The villagers welcomed Pramila the student of Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre for Mentally Challenged Children, Pamboor, Udupi.
When Ashwini Shetty won the gold medals in Asian games and returned back to Udupi, the district administration had organized the deserving welcoming ceremony at Udupi. On that occasion the MLAs and their followers in a competition between them, even climbed upon the vehicle in which she was travelling and waved hands to public as if they themselves won the gold medals.
But to welcome Pramila Pinto who won gold medal in Olympics, a international event, there were no representatives of District administration. But the entire Pamboor village was there to welcome her with flowers and took her in a grand procession. Katpadi Shakar Poojary – President of Jilla Panchayath, Devdas Hebbar – President of Taluk Panchayath and some of the Panchayath members only had joined the welcoming ceremony.
Pramila Pinto was felicitated in a function and on this occasion Devdas Hebbar – President of Taluk Panchayath was present. But other than him, neither the District Administration, nor the local MLAs or the peoples representatives seems to know that a girl named Pramila has won gold medal in the international level and has brought pride to the country, though this news has been published in the news papers in the last few days.
But, on Thursday it was moment of joy to Thelma Louis - Principal of Manasa, President Remidia D’Souza, Coach Lakshminarayana Upadyaya, Teachers of Manasa, Management, Welwishers, Students of Manasa and the people of Pamboor.
Speaking to reporters after the function Pramila said that she dedicated the medals to Manasa and her Parents. She wants to participate in more competitions and bring more glory to the country. At the end she said, please give encouragement to the children like me.