By Michael Rodrigues, Team Mangalorean - Udupi
Pics by Anil Alva Moodubelle

Posted at 7:15 pm

Udupi, Jul 7: Pramila Joyce Pinto, an inmate of Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre at Pamboor in Udupi district, who won a gold medal and a bronze medal in roller skating event held at the 13th Special Olympics world Summer Games held in Athens in Greece from June 25 to July 4, was given a rousing welcome in her hometown on Thursday, July 7.

She was warmly welcomed at the Katapady bus-stand by Manasa Centre and sports fans besides various organizations, citizens of Katapady and surrounding areas and school children.

Udupi zilla panchayt president Katapady Shanker Poojary welcomed Pramila with flower garlands from the district administration.  Taluk panchayat president Devadas Hebbar, Nagarika Samiti secretary Nityananda Olakadu, ZP member Ida Gibba D’Souza and many other dignitaries and huge number of fans of Pramila were present

Pramila was taken in a procession in a special vehicle up to the Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre Pamboor. Students from Pamboor church school, and Narayana Guru English Medium School and inmates of Manasa Centre took part in the procession.

After the procession, a brief felicitation programme was organized by Manasa centre. Shirva varado dean Fr Stany Tauro presided over the function and felicitated Pramila Pinto by presenting a shawl, garland and fruits.

Pamboor Holy Cross parish priest Fr Charles Lewis, Udupi taluk panchayat president Devadas Hebbar, Nagarika Samiti secretary Nityananda Olakadu, All India Christian Union Karnataka state president Elroy Kiran Crasto, Manasa Trust secretary Dr Gerald Pinto, training head of Pramila's Lakshminarayana Upadhya, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh secretary William Machado and District Special children’s officer Niranjan Bhat were present as the chief guests.

Manasa Trust president Remidia D’Souza, principal of Manasa Rehabilitation and Training Centre Sr. Thelma were present in the dais.

Sr Thelma welcomed the gathering and Freeda D’Souza compered the programme.

About Pramila Pinto

Pramila, daughter of Robert Pinto and Philomina Pinto, earlier hailed from Bodanthila village of Vamanjoor.  Being a specially-abled child, when she could not get admission into general schools, she was admitted to Manasa in 1998.  She manifested her interest in various activities and participated actively in sports and cultural events.

At present, she is doing her vocation course in Arts and Crafts.  Along with her curriculum activities, she developed much interest in roller-skating.  She could display her talent at the national-level event held in  2009 and attracted the attention of national selectors.   She participated in the training camps held at Pondicherry in June 2010 and Hyderabad in October the same year.

Besides being good at sports, Pramila had been good at cultural activities. She had participated in various cultural competitions such as dance, singing, drawing and fancy dress held in different parts of the district and has won prizes.