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The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India has bestowed the National Awards for Outstanding Services in the Field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance ( Drug) Abuse to eight recipients in different categories. At a well attended function by Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers, Representatives from the United Nations and distinguish guest, The Hon'ble President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee, gave away these awards at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Fr. Joseph Hilary Pereira was awarded the Prestigious National Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement by a Professional..
Before the awarded was given by The Hon'ble President of India, a Citation was read about Fr. Joe as follows:
" Fr. Joseph Hilary Pereira, who holds a Masters in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Mumbai is a certified Counselor from Minnesota, USA, established a Non Government Organization named Kripa Foundation in the year 1981 in a church compound in Bandra, Mumbai, and has been working in the field of Drug Prevention and Demand Reduction for over 32 years.
Kripa Foundation started with three resident patients, a priest, a doctor and a recovering alcoholic. Under the guidance and mentorship of Fr. Joseph Pereira, it is now rendering services through 18 centres in 12 states across the country for de-addiction and rehabilitation of drug addicts. Presently, Kripa Foundation has has admission facilities for 450 individuals at a time in its various centres.
Through his visionary approach, Fr. Joseph Pereira further broadened his area of activities by including other components such as Street Children Project, Employees Assistance Program, Drop in Centres, Family Therapy Programme, Comprehensive Community Projects for HIV/AIDS Care etc. Kripa Foundation also partners with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, National AIDS Control Organization, Narcotics Control Bureau, various State Departments etc. and offers consultative services.
Fr. Joseph Pereira has to his credit 18 national and international publications and presentations on Addiction, Public and Industrial Health, Yoga and Meditation and has organized over 37 national and international workshops since 1981 related to addiction, Yoga, Stress Management and Meditation.
Fr. Joseph Pereira was conferred with the prestigious Padmashri Award for Social Services towards the Marginalized Population by the Government of India in the year 2009. He has been showered with various other awards and accolades also.
The award for Outstanding Individual Achievement by a Professional is conferred on Fr. Joseph Hilary is Pereira, Mumbai in recognition of his outstanding exemplary services in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse for the last 32 years."
To a loud applause from the audience in the auditorium Fr. Joe received the National Award at the hands of Hon'ble President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee. Fr. Joe was accompanied by his nun sister Teresa, who was deeply moved and proud to see her brother receive this prestigious award.
It was a indeed a Red Letter Day for Kripa Foundation at this National Awards, which was held on The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 26th June, 2014 that Kripa's National Program Director Bosco D'Souza also received an award in the category of "Former Addict in the field of Addiction". Mr. Bosco D'Souza was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Charmaine D'Souza and his brother Milton D'Souza and sister in law Joy Assey.
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