Bendur, Mangalore 29 December 2018: Rev. Sr MariolaDsouza BS is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, Mangalore. She has successfully defended her Ph.D., thesis on 11th December 2018 at a Public Viva-Voce Examination on the Title: “A study on the implementation of Food security Schemes among the slum dwellers of Mangalore City: A Human Rights perspective” Department of Economics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu under Research Supervisor Dr K Raja Mohan Rao, Professor-cum-Director (Retd) Centre for study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, BharathidasanUniversity, Tiruchirapally, Tamil Nadu.
The research has focused on the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013. We find a prophetic voice claiming the entitlements of the slum dwellers and also the duty of the Government to respect, protect and fulfil the socio-economic, and cultural rights of the slum dwellers of Mangalore City, inclusive of all the slums of India as well. She has highlighted the policy loopholes in the Act and presented the policy recommendation for NFSA 2013 with a purpose to make India free from hunger and malnutrition.
The examiners on the completion of the defence strongly recommended for the immediate publication of the research.
The staff and research scholar of the Department of Economics and the Directorate of Centre for study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, congratulated Sr Mariola.
Sr M Rose Celine BS, the Superior General, and her council, Sr M CiciliaMendonca BS, the Provincial Superior, and her council along with other Bethany sisters congratulated her for her commitment and focus on the poorest, which is the hallmark of Bethany Charism and Spirituality.
Being gifted with a large heart for the poor and the down trodden, she has served at Shubhada Society, a shelter home for women in distress, Jeevandhara Social Service Trust, and enabled women to live in human dignity. At present she renders her service as Provincial Councillor of Mangalore Province and Coordinates the Educational ministry. Her study of Civil law has enabled her to take up a socio-pastoral approach in building families and restoring human dignity of many irrespective of caste, religion and language. She has two Masters Degrees in Economics and in Human Rights. Being expert in Food security campaign, she is a member of strategy group of Food for Life Campaign under Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) under World Council of Churches based in Geneva.
While congratulating Dr Sr Mariola BS,we pray that she continues to be the hand, feet, voice, name and face of Jesus, who remains in the hungry and the poor.
Sr Mariola BS hails from the parish of St Lawrence Church, Moodubelle, daughter of Salvadore D Souza and Christine D Souza. Keep up your vigour Dr Sr Mariola BS!