Father Joseph H.
Pereira, Founder and Managing Trustee, Kripa Foundation was awarded the second
prize in the Dream Makers category of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon
2013 held on January 20, 2013. Fr. Joe collected nearly Rs. 700,000 through his
single-handed efforts for the Kripa Foundation, the largest Non Government
Organization in India that rehabilitates drug and alcohol addicts while caring
for marginalized segments of the society such as HIV/ AIDS victims and slum
children.
The award was presented
to Fr. Joe by Bollywood actor John Abraham and BJP Spokesman, Shaina NC at a
glittering ceremony held recently to felicitate runners who had netted the
highest amount of donations for the charitable organizations they represented.
The event, held at
the The Trident hotel in Nariman Point, Mumbai was attended by Dr. Indu Shahani, Chairperson, United Way of
Mumbai . Also in attendance were Shri Chhagan Bhujbal, Hn’ble Minster, Public
Works & Tourism, Shri Anil Deshmukh, Hon’ble Minster, Food & Civil Supplies,
Shri Jayant Kumar Bhantia, Chief Secretary, Shri J S Sahariya, Additional Chief
Secretaruy, Sports & Education, Shri S J Kunte, Commissioner MCGM and Shri
Satyapal Singh, Commissioner of Police, among others. Attendees also included Sumeet Singla
Regional Head Corporate Affairs, India & South Asia, Standard Chartered,
the title sponsor, Girish Ramachandran, Vice President Corporate, Tata
Consultancy Services and Vishal Jhunjhunwala, Head Corporate Brand Tata
Consultancy Services, the Associate Sponsor, and senior officials from
partnering companies.
Organizers announced,
the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2013 generates Rs 18.61 crores in
donations -an increase of almost Rs 2.5 crores over the Rs 16.07 crores
generated in 2012 and will benefit 230 NGOs as compared to 197 last year.
Speaking on the
occasion, Fr. Joe said: “This award clearly indicates the excellent work that
well wishers and Friends of Kripa are doing for the Kripa Foundation. But above
all, this is also a significant pointer to the fact that the general public is
now fast realizing the hazards of drug and alcohol addiction and the
devastating effects it has on the society. Our participation also highlighted
how the scourge of HIV/ AIDS has spread rapidly and this award is also a
recognition of the work Kripa Foundation is doing in this field to rehabilitate
the marginalized sections of the society."
Team Kripa which
participated in the SCMM 2013 the 10th edition of the event- consisted of
people from all walks of life such as businessmen, senior executives,
physicians, engineers, journalists, students, counselors, prominent women,
industrialists and former patients from India and abroad.
Padma Shree Fr. Joe
said, Kripa Foundation will continue to participate in all future SCMMs with
larger teams and wider support from the public and sponsors. "Without
support from the public, we cannot fight the menace of drug and alcohol
addiction, which are reaching endemic proportions in India. Sadly, women too
are falling prey to addictions due to hectic lifestyles and inhumane family
demands that requires them to tend to
kids, feed the family while pursuing a decent career. We call upon the society,
especially women, to seek Kripa's assistance, since we treat all our patients
with utmost anonymity and have two dedicated centres- in Pune and Goa, for
rehabilitating women addicts. Our research indicates women are more addicted to
sedatives, cough syrups, tranquilizers and anti-depressants, as well as other
potent prescription drugs that can have long-term harmful effects on their
mental health. Increased consumption of alcohol among women from an early age
is also evident in today's society, which poses an alarming scenario for the
country," he said. Fr. Joe later
told staff and patients at Kripa Foundation that it was their love that had
seen him win several accolades over the years.
Submitted by
Ashwin Honawar & Brett Rodricks
Collage
Newsdesk
A video clip of the event at Hotel Trident Mumbai
