Moodubelle: Workshop on Scholarship Facilities for Minority Students

Report and Pictures by Eugene Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 16 May 2010: The Catholic Sabha Unit of Moodubelle organised a Workshop on Scholarship Facilities to Minority Students on Sunday, 16th May 2010 at 9 am in the premises of St. Lawrence PU College, Moodubelle. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Parish Priest of Moodubelle presided over the inaugural programme. Mr. Charles Quadros, Convenor of the Udupi Varado Minority Cell was the resource person.

Mr. Ignatius Monis, the Treasurer of the Catholic Sabha, Moodubelle Unit, who anchored the programme, in his introductory remarks said that the minorities have been guaranteed a number of rights in the Constitution of India. Besides, State and Central Governments have implemented a number of facilities for the benefit of the minorities. In order to make the people aware of these rights and facilities especially the Scholarship facilities to the minority students, the Moodubelle Unit of the Catholic Sabha has organised this workshop.

In his brief address, Fr. Joswey Fernandes   said that the Moodubelle Unit of the Catholic Sabha has taken a lot of pain to organise the workshop for the benefit of the needy students and their parents who should have availed the opportunity by attending the workshop in large numbers. However, he appreciated those who were present at the workshop and appealed them to pass on the information to other needy families in their neighbourhood.

Mr. Charles Quadros as the resource person explained various types of scholarships that are being introduced both by the Central and State Governments and the eligibility criteria required and the procedure to avail these scholarships. He pointed out that many Christian families have not been able to avail the various scholarships and fee concession chiefly due to ignorance and attitude of indifference.   He felt the need that more and more people belonging to minority communities, especially Christians should be made aware of these facilities. 

Drawing chiefly from an informative article on ‘Government Scholarships and Our Rights’ written by Mr. Stephen Quadros, Permude in the May 2010, issue of ‘Amcho Sandesh’, the official monthly magazine of the Catholic Sabha, Mr. Charles Quadros listed 11 different types of scholarships and fee concessions from the Central and State Governments right from pre-Matric to Post-graduate students and the percentage of marks that they should score in order to be eligible for the scholarship of fee concession, necessary documents that are required to be attached and where and when to submit the application forms.  

The workshop was attended by Mr. Henry Fernandes, Vice President of Parish Council, Mr. Monthu Castelino, President of the Moodubelle Unit of the Catholic Sabha, Mrs. Wilma Rodrigues, Secretary, Mr. Ignatius Monis, Treasurer and Mr. Cyril D’Souza, former President. Mr. Monthu Castelino proposed the vote of thanks.