St Aloysius holds Unique Convocation Ceremony in the District Prison
Mangaluru: St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) Mangaluru, in association with the District Legal Services Authority, Mangaluru, organised a 120-day training course in “Integrated Agriculture and Organic Farming Methods” for the inmates of the District Prison, Mangaluru, from October 2, 2023, to January 31, 2024.
The training was mainly intended for the transformation, rehabilitation, and skill development of the trainees and to prepare them for a dignified life after their release.
The convocation ceremony to distribute the Diploma certificates was held on March 11, 2024, on the jail premises. The program commenced with a prayer song by Ms Bharathi, Warder. Mr Obaleshappa, Jail Superintendent, gave the welcome address and explained the significance of the event. Prof. Edmund Frank, the Course Organiser, explained that the training sessions were practical-oriented and covered areas that included preparing the soil for cultivation, propagation of plants using quality seeds, cuttings, and grafting, growing vegetables, agricultural crops, and fruit-yielding plants, terrace and kitchen gardening, preparing vermicompost and organic manure, mushroom cultivation, aquarium fish rearing, and the use of organic pesticides.
Mr Ravindra M. Joshi, Hon. PRL. District and Sessions Judge, Mangaluru, inaugurated the program and, in a ceremonious setting, unfurled the marble plaque of the stage sponsored by Prof. Edmund Frank in the presence of all the dignitaries. Addressing the gathering, he complimented the organisers for organising this useful course, which will extensively benefit the trainees.
Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha Presided over the function. Smt. Shoba B. G., Senior CJ and Member Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Mangaluru; Dr Alwyn D’Sa, Registrar, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru; and Rev. Dr Francis Kodian, MCBS, Co-Founder and National Coordinator, Prison Ministry India, Bangalore, were the chief guests. Mr B.T. Obaleshappa, Mr Bharat Nayak Asst. Commandant, KSISF, and Prof. Edmund Frank were on dais along with other dignitaries.
The Diploma Certificates were distributed to 31 trainees by the Bishop, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Mr Ravindra M. Joshi, Hon. PRL. District, and Sessions Judges, Smt. Shoba B.G., Dr Alwyn D’Sa, and Rev. Dr Francis Kodian, respectively. After which, they addressed the gathering. In his Presidential address, the Bishop congratulated the trainees and told the inmates that some of them might be innocent. Prison life, though it curtailed their independence, they should forget all their ill feelings and come out with a clean conscience, and God’s blessings and guidance will be with them.
Mr Lava Kumar, Warder, was the Master of ceremonies. Mr Rajendra Kapade, Jailer, proposed the vote of thanks.
The program was organised under the auspices of Rev. Dr Praveen Martis SJ, Vice Chancellor, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) and Mr B T Obaleshappa, Superintendent, District Prison, Mangalore, and Mr Michael D’Souza, Course Sponsor. Prof. Glavin Rodrigues prepared the syllabus modules and functioned as the coordinator, and Prof. Edmund Frank was the Organiser of the training program. Mr Blany D’Souza and Mr Prasanna D’Souza were the resource persons for terrace gardening and mushroom cultivation, respectively.
