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Foundation laid for ‘Ian Cares’ Foundation’s ‘Sarva Dharma Sangama’ to reorient youth

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Kinnigoli: “We are passing through a difficult phase in our lives wherein our youth across all religions become victims of ‘Alcoholic drinks & drugs menace’. It is time we realize the danger to the lives of our vulnerable youth, whom we hail as the future of this world,” said Rev Fr Mathew Vas, parish priest of Kinnigoli Church and Vicar of Mulky-Kinnigoli deanery. He was speaking after blessing the ‘Ian Cares’ Foundation and its rehabilitation wing, ‘Sarva Dharma Sangama’ in memory of Ian Austin Mascarenhas, who succumbed to his injuries following a car accident in Mangalore on Dec 23, 2017.

The program was organized by the family of Ian Austin and ‘Ian Cares’ foundation on his second death anniversary at their ancestral place in Quila (Moorukaveri) near Kinnigoli on Friday, December 27, 2017. 

Rev Fr Mathew Vas thanked the trustees for choosing the Kinnigoli region to start such a noble humanitarian effort. He said the people in the future world should follow the message, ‘Sarva Dharma Sangama’ for peaceful co-existence and religious harmony.
Mrs. Elizabeth Crasto, grandmother of Ian Austin symbolically inaugurated the foundation accompanied by the members of the family. The family members and trustees jointly offered flower petals to the inaugural plaque cum memorial of Ian Austin.

Bhuvanabhirama Udupa, editor in chief of ‘Yugapurusha’ Kannada magazine and a well-known social activist in the region, launched the site layout of ‘Sarva Dharma Sangama’ and said – “When we are born into this world we don’t know which religion we are born into, it can be a Hindu Christian or a Muslim family. Even when natural calamities hit us we all of becoming victims of such calamity irrespective of which religion we belong to, so also when we are admitted into a hospital, not our religion but our blood group is recognized before starting treatment. Hence we better stop fighting in the name of religion and do something which badly needed in our community.

He congratulated Hemacharya, the Managing Trustee and said only a person like him who identifies himself in all religions and respected by all in Kinnigoli can think of initiating such a novel mission. He said all the people across the religions in the region are going to benefit from this facility as it is a common scene nowadays to find youth in large numbers becoming victims of drinks and drugs addiction.

Former Regional Advisor for Leprosy at United Nations, WHO – East Asia Region, Dr. Derek Lobo unveiled the logo of the foundation and said – Today it’s a common scene to witness youth among us committing suicide like never before and the most common root cause is their unwary lifestyle and love for drinks and drugs which leads them towards depression and ends with suicide. The formation of rehabilitation is the need of the day and such centers should be opened in all regions not just in the cities. He wished success to the effort and expressed his appreciation for choosing a small town like Kinnigoli for this service which is in the serenity of nature.

Edward Crasto, an entrepreneur from Mumbai and a trustee planted a sapling in the memory of Ian Austin, who had been his Godson.

The Head of Daijiworld Media, Walter Nandalike, launched a unique personal ID card that contains the name of the person, contact number, blood group and the number of the person to be contacted during an emergency.

Stressing on the importance of such a unique card he said – When our reporters rush to the accident sites they are surprised to find the accidental person not carrying any card to identify them. Even when they are carried to the hospital, it takes hours to find their blood group, before treatment during which period many of the victims lose their life.

By displaying the card, he said the information needed for a person is not available in any of the cards launched by the government such as Aadhar card, ration card or such. He also spoke about Ian Austin whom he knew since childhood and said what others did not accomplish in a long life, Ian has done within his 26 years of age, hence his life is worth celebrating, which is done through the card. He urged each one to carry such a unique card on their person.

The brochure of the foundation was released by Chryston Machado, Ian’s close friend who represents his friends worldwide.
In his introductory speech, Hemacharya shared the objectives of the foundation and said, our aim is to bring back to active life, those boys and girls who are suffering from evil effects of drinks, drugs, and depression.

I have personally experienced the agony, distress and mental turmoil as a parent, as my own son was a drug addict. “We were away working in the Gulf and not aware of what’s going on with our son’s life.”  “When we returned to India and came to know about his situation, we offered to rehabilitate him and he readily agreed as he himself was tired and fed up with his life and he wanted to bounce back.”

He then explained how Dr. Denzil Pinto, then the head of the Department of Psychiatry at Fr Muller College Hospital helped them to get their son back to life through detoxification and rigorous 15-day treatment in total seclusion.  He also said it was on the first death anniversary, Ian’s friends who came to visit his ailing mother, prevailed upon them to start a facility so that youth in need could be rescued from danger to life.  “I am not only grateful to Dr. Denzil Pinto, who saved my son from disaster who has since joined the foundation as a trustee, but also to my best friends, Walter D’Souza Nandalike, Entrepreneur Rohan Monteiro, Well-known Chartered Accountant Nitin J Shetty, Lawyer Dinesh KB who have agreed to be part of the foundation.” 

The program started with a prayer hymn from the popular Hindi film ‘Ankur’ led by Daphne, Melvina, and Joshua. Dr. Prof Clarence Miranda, former principal at Pompei College conducted the program with astute brilliance and proposed a vote of thanks.  Hemacharya presented saplings of flower plants to the guests and in particular, to brothers, Richard & Jerry Rodrigues who have offered to provide water connection through a borewell and a sprinkler facility.

In the morning hours, the priest from Kateel Shree Durga Parameshwari Temple Subramanya Hebbar performed Puja and led the prayers in the presence of distinguished people, friends, neighbors and family members of Ian Austin, and trustees. Among others entrepreneur Rocky Pinto, former GM of MCC Bank, Clement Andrade, branch manager of Karnataka Bank, KG Mallya former deputy GM of Syndicate, editor in chief of Karavali Ale, B V Seetharam were present.

Those who seek further information can contact Hemacharya, the managing trustee (Mobile +91 9740296297) or write in at the following address:

‘Ian Cares’ Foundation, Quila, Kinnigoly PO 574150 Dakshina Kannada Karnataka state, India. Those who wish to support this humanitarian effort may send their contribution to the following bank account with information to iancaresfoudation@gmail.com (A receipt with a letter of thanks will follow upon receipt of contribution.)

Account Name: Ian Cares Foundation Name of Bank: Karnataka Bank, Aikala Branch P O Kinnigoly – 574150 (contact number as above) Current Account No. 0122000100013901 IFSC code. KARB0000012 Swift code: KARBINBBMNG Email: aikala@ktkbank.com
Contact number – 0824 – 2295118

 

 

Foundation laid for ‘Ian Cares’ Foundation’s ‘Sarva Dharma Sangama’ to reorient youth
Foundation laid for ‘Ian Cares’ Foundation’s ‘Sarva Dharma Sangama’ to reorient youth
Foundation laid for ‘Ian Cares’ Foundation’s ‘Sarva Dharma Sangama’ to reorient youth
Foundation laid for ‘Ian Cares’ Foundation’s ‘Sarva Dharma Sangama’ to reorient youth
Foundation laid for ‘Ian Cares’ Foundation’s ‘Sarva Dharma Sangama’ to reorient youth
Foundation laid for ‘Ian Cares’ Foundation’s ‘Sarva Dharma Sangama’ to reorient youth

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