Darshan College NSS Unit camps at Sumanahalli Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre
Darshan College NSS unit ventures into social service and unveils to the students the taste of service of the needy, poor & the marginalized. Under the able leadership of the Principal Rev. Fr. George Monis, Vice-Principal Rev. Fr. Nitin D’Souza and the Faculty members, 50 NSS volunteers camped at Sumanahalli, a village of “people of good will”. All began in 1978 at the initiative of the then Chief Minister of Karnataka and the then Arch Bishop of Bangalore to treat and to rehabilitate the leprosy-afflicted persons in and around Bangalore. The Good work continued to treat and rehabilitate not only the leprosy-afflicted persons but also HIV inflicted patients, disabled destitutes and street children of Bangalore. Today, Sumanahalli is a model of “par excellence” of collaborative, voluntary and participatory action of Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and Lay People to extend helping hand for the empowerment of the poor and the marginalized.

Darshan College NSS volunteers chopped down the thorny bushes and thick grass in two acre of land to plant fruit bearing trees. They planned and worked for the watershed to harvest the rainwater from the campus. They engaged in replacing the kitchen sink and re-tiling of destroyed floor. There were in-put sessions on organic farming, bio-fertilizer, solid waste management, sustainable development, clean energy, stress management, disease management of leprosy and HIV prevention. Renowned resource persons introduced the students to engage in various life-skill workshops. The students visited and interacted with the inmates such as leprosy, HIV, juvenile delinquents, family quarters, run-away children, candle making and paper-bag preparation units. For the students it was a pure joy of sharing life with people than giving something material. They embraced the inmates with warmth of smile, listened to their grief and sufferings, empathized with their concrete life situations.

The Bangalore University, NSS Coordinator Prof. Dr. Srinivasa assessed and highly appreciated the work of the NSS volunteers, Rev. Fr. Peter D’souza, the Director of Sumanahalli being impressed by the good will of the students, he thanked them for their sincere service. The Director of Darshan College Rev. Fr. Alwyn Dias addressed the students saying: “what you have lived and experienced here will make you to live better for the years to come”. The credit for the success of the residential NSS camp goes to Prof. Dr. Xavier VK., Prof. Robert, Prof. Reshma and Prof. Linet who accompanied and monitored day in and day out all the activities and programmes. The News Papers such as Viyaya Karnataka, Sanjaivani and others, appreciated it as a meritorious service to humanity, and hailed Sumanahalli for welcoming so many in its abode, and thanked Darshan College for organizing such a praiseworthy residential camp for the modern generation of today!

A N N O U N C E M E N T S

OFFICIALS
Rev. Dr. Fr. John Alwyn Dias President, CEB	Rev. Fr. Victor D’ Souza Executive Secretary, CEB., Director, St. Anthony’s Institutions,
Rev. Fr. Joy D’ Souza Principal, Darshan College St. Anthony’s Institutions