FKCA Celebrated Federation Day

Two bankers and an entrepreneur belonging to Konkani Catholics, were honoured by the Federation of Konkani Catholic Association (FKCA) as part of its Federation Day celebrations on Jan 27, 2008.

The event started with the holy mass by the Archbishop of Bangalore Most Rev Dr Bernard Moras. Prof B.K Chandrashekar, Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, Valerian Fernandes, Chairman of FKCA, Charles Gomes, Gen.Secretary, John D’’Silva, Albert D’Souza and Allan Pereira, presided over the inaugural.
Mr John D’Silva, leading cooperative banker and social worker, who was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award, has been intimately associated with the cooperative movement for well over three decades.

Hailing from a small hamlet of Karkala taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, he has made his mark in the cooperative sector in Mumbai and Maharashtra. A self-made man, who left for Mumbai at a young age after his secondary education in Karkala, he passed his SSC by attending night school in 1955 and did his B.A., B.Com and LL.B while working. He was the chief promoter and first Managing Director of Abhyudaya Cooperative Bank Ltd and has been involved with several cooperative banks and institutions in Maharashtra. He was also instrumental in starting several educational institutions.

Mr Albert D’Souza, Managing Director, Printania Offset Pvt Ltd, was conferred the Entrepreneur of the Year award. Printania Offset Pvt Ltd, is one of the leading printing houses in India with state-of-the-art modern facilities in printing technology.

He is also intimately associated with several educational, cooperative and social service activities in Maharashtra, viz. as chairman of Model Cooperative Bank Ltd and vice chairman of Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is the key figure in the establishment of St Francis Engineering College, Borivili, Mumbai, St. Xavier Engineering College, Mahim, Mumbai Don Bosco Engineering College, Kurla, Mumbai. He is serving as executive committee member in the above colleges as also the St Joseph’s Engineering College, Mangalore, St Francis MBA College, Borivli, Mumbai, St Xavier’s MBA College, Dhobi Talao besides being being the executive committee member of Karuna Hospital, Borivli, Mumbai and advisory board member of Holy Family Hospital, Mumbai.

Mr Allan Pereira, Executive Director, Oriental Bank of Commerce, was conferred the Professional Excellence award. Mr Pereira, has been since shortlisted to head a PSB as a CMD.