GOOD SAMARITAN NATIONAL AWARD
Good Samaritan Award is instituted for honoring the Best Social Workers
in India in terms of their significant and selfless contribution in the
field of social work. The award consists of Rs. 50,000 along with
memento and certificate of honor. KSSS is implementing this project by
accepting nominations, appointing impartial jury, and organizing award
ceremony. Agape Movement is supporting this program.
The objective of Good Samaritan Award is to
encourage, promote, and support people who do extra ordinary
humanitarian service in India.
This award is organized by Kottayam Social
Service Society (KSSS), the Social Service department of the Archdiocese
of Kottayam with the financial assistance of Agape Movement, USA.
KSSS announces invitation from the public
through mass media to recommend people who do extra-ordinary
humanitarian services. An Award Committee appointed by KSSS consisting
of three members who are reputed persons and competent to do the work
will evaluate the applications and recommend the list to KSSS. KSSS
announces the winner and organizes a public function at Good Samaritan
Centre Cherpunkal or at Chaithanya Auditorium.
The outcomes of this project are:
- Recognition for those who work hard for the less fortunate in the
community.
- Financial support for the award
winner’s philanthropic work.
- More people will
be encouraged to do similar services.
THE FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN AWARD TO DAYA BHAI
Revenue Minister of Kerala State Mr.
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan inaugurated the “Good Samaritan National
Award” and handed over the first award on January 29, 2012 at
Chaithanaya Pastoral Centre, Thellakom, Kottayam. The award recipient
was Mercy Mathew popularly known as 'Daya Bhai.' She is a Malayalee from
Pala who has been working with the tribes in a village in Madhya
Pradesh's Chhindwara district for the past 32 years. She is fondly
called as Tinsei Ki Rani by her loved ones.
Archbishop of Kottayam Mar Mathew Moolakkatt
presided over the award distribution ceremony. Three people were also
recognized in the function for their outstanding service. They are (1)
Mr. P.U. Thomas, the leader of Nava Jeevan Trust in Kottayam, (2) Dr.
Sunil M.S., Professor of Zoology at Catholicate College Pathanamthitta
and NSS program coordinator of Mahathma Gandhi University, and (3) Sr.
Anila Mathew F.C.C., director of Good Shepherd Health Education Centre &
Dispensary in Karamadai, Coimbatore.
The jury members were: (1) Dr. K.R.
Viswambharan, I.A.S., Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University
(Chairman), (2) Muraleedharan Thazhakkara, Program Executive of “Vayalum
Veedum” program of All India Radio, (3) Dr. Raseena Padmam, head of
Behavioral Science in Mahathma Gandhi University.
THE SECOND GOOD SAMARITAN AWARD TO P.U. THOMAS
Chief Minister of Kerala Mr. Oommen Chandy
presented the second award to Mr. P.U. Thomas on Sunday, June 16, 2013
at Samaritan Resource Centre, Cherpunkal. Bishop Mar Joseph
Pandarasseri, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Kottayam
presided over the function.
Mr. K.M. Mani, Finance Minister of Kerala
presented Budding Social Worker Award to Ms. Sethu Parbathy. Mr.
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Minister of Home Affairs presented Special
Appreciation Award to Mr. Biju Varghese.
The jury members were: Dr. A.V. George
(Chariman), Mr. Jayaraj, film director, and Sister Thresiamma OMI,
Director of Archana Women’s Centre.
THE THIRD GOOD SAMARITAN AWARD TO PADMASHREE
SUDHA VARGHESE
Chief Minister of Kerala Mr. Oommen Chandy
presented the third award to Padmashree Sudha Varghese at Chaithanya
Auditorium, Thellakom on June 15, 2014. Sudha Varghese, also known as
Sister Sudha, is a social worker and Catholic nun in India who has
devoted herself to the Musahar, the Dalit of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,
one of the Scheduled Castes and who are considered the "untouchables".
She resides and works in Jamsaut, a village in Patna district. She is
sometimes called didi, which means elder sister.
Mar Mathew Moolakkatt, Archbishop of Kottayam
presided over the function. Mr. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Minister of
forests, sports, cinema, road transport and environment presented
“Prachithaka Award” to Mr. Anandhu Krishnan.
The jury members were: Mr. T.K. Jose IAS,
Chairman of the Coconut Development Board of India (Jury Chairman), Dr.
Sheena Sukkur, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Mahathma Gandhi University, and
Mr. Muraleedharan Thazhakara, Programme Executive of All India Radio,
Thiruvananthapuram.
THE
FOURTH GOOD SAMARITAN AWARD TO MRS. ANNIE JOSEPH
Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic
Church Cardinal Mar George Alancherry presented the Fourth Good
Samaritan National Award to Mrs. Annie Joseph on February 14, 2017 at
Mutholath Auditorium that was blessed and inaugurated on the same day at
Cherpunkal. Mrs. Annie Josei is the director of “Ankur Kala” – an
outstanding women empowerment organization in Calcutta. Mar Mathew
Moolakkatt, Archbishop of Kottayam presided over the function.
The jury members were: Dr. Prameela Devi J.,
Member of State Commission for Women (Jury Convener), Mr. Muraleedharan
THazhakkara, Programme Executive, “Vayalum Veedum”, All India Radio, and
Mr. P.U. Thomas, Trustee of Navajeevan Trust Kottayam.