Young Religious Entrepreneur Award to Fr. Vinod Wilfred Mascarenhas OFM.,
Cap. The golden jubilee celebration of the Conference of Religious India was
held on 2-02-2014 at Mount Carmel College Auditorium, Bangalore as organized
by the KRCR and Bangalore CRI. There were an over whelming crowd of nearly
1800 brothers, sisters and fathers from the 10 dioceses of Karnataka who
took an active part in the celebration of the day. It was an auspicious
event for all of religious to come together, to be renewed and revitalized
to continue the mission of Christ Jesus with even more dynamism, zeal and
passion.
On this occasion our Capuchin leading light Fr. Vinod Wilfred Mascarenhas a
vibrant social activist received Young Religious Entrepreneur Award from
KRCR & CRI Banglore from the hands of U.T. Khadar, the Honourable Health
Minister of Karnataka. There were seven other young religious given the
award for their tangible and innovative contribution to the mission
entrusted to them in the form of art, dance, music and social development to
the cause of the poor and marginalised.
Fr. Vinod Mascarenhas is the active member of Karavali Karnataka
Janabhivraddhi Vedike (KKJV) core committee. When he was pursuing his MSW
studies in St. Aloysius College, he joined this movement. During his MSW
studies the talk of the town was about SEZ. He wanted to know about SEZ. On
his visit to Permude Panchayat, he came to know many shocking things about
SEZ. What ignited him was the talk of Christian Families. When the panchayat
people asked the Christian communities to take the support of the clergy,
the people said, we have given up long back. No church people are siding
with us. He saw the discouragement, lowliness felt by the people. People did
not know that he was a priest. Fr. Vinod decided to do something for these
affected people. With this motivation he visited the affected families
regularly. He met them day by day, looked into the land records of the each
family and suggested them concrete measure to prepare themselves to fight
against the forceful land acquisition. He conducted many awareness programs
through street plays, yakshnagana shows, propaganda through microphones,
visited Churches in Pejar Varado and surrounding places, through Sunday
liturgy strengthened people, gave them awareness, instilled hope to fight
for justice. There he formed groups of various affected people and took them
to officials in Bangalore to Vidhana Soudaha, Delhi, Jantar Mantar and
participated in the SEZ dharanas along with prominent activists like Medha
Patakar and other national activists. He also participated in state wise SEZ
movements such as Maharashtra, Goa, Tamilnadu, Andra, Gujarat and so on to
study the best strategies and to implement in the Mangalore. He stood by Mr.
Gregory Patrao and his family, day and night along with his group, conducted
hunger strikes. As a result and cooperation of all the members of the
movement2032 acres of land was de-notified. It was a big relief and success
for the landless marginal, medium land holding farmers. Thus second phase of
SEZ was successfully scrapped and brought relief to thousands of poor
families. He still continues to fight against the ill motives of SEZ
corporate people. Besides this he also conducted several surveys and took
samples in order to enlighten the government and environment department
about the hazardous effects of MRPL and BSF companies.
For his efforts he was recognized with Talent award 2011, as lover of nature
(parisara premi) and for the contribution towards the less advantaged. He
was also honored as an outstanding Social Activist in 2011 on the event of
Decennial Celebration of MSW department of St. Aloysius College.
He continues to fight against Netravati diversion, privatization of water.
He already held many discussions in colleges on the effect of diversion of
the river.
Along with all the concerns he also works in Capuchin Krishik Seva Kendra ®
to instill hope and self-esteem among the poor children HIV, social, beedi
rollers, special children, vulnerable children and women and also organizes
several training activities to create employment opportunities, to eradicate
malnourishment among children etc,. He provides through agencies teachers to
government schools so that they are not closed down. He also motivates many
likeminded people to fight for the women and child rights. He also promotes
blood donation camps and encourages youths to donate blood. On this juncture
we the Capuchins friars of Holy Trinity Province are really proud of him for
his good work and wish him all the best.
