International Women’s Day – Recognising the Unsung Heroines of Mangaluru City Corporation

Today “International Women’s Day” was celebrated with a lively programme bringing out the importance of women in the family, who have the power to create, nurture and transform the society.

The students of class VII put up a very interesting and informative programme. Asfan Firdus and Pranav P. were the hosts, entertaining everyone with their lively banter in English as well as in Hindi. The celebration began with a prayer service followed by a dance in Punjabi style. Seona Tracey Fernandes then welcomed the guests and the audience. A brief introduction was given in Kannada by hosts Sanvi and Srijan.

The hosts did a great job in enlightening the audience about the way women lived in the past, where they were considered inferior to man and how they have progressed and developed to their current status, and even excelling in certain fields. A musical skit on the theme of Women Empowerment was enacted. This was followed by a hilarious mime by the energetic boys of class VII.

Today women have excelled in all the fields, but basically they still remain homemakers. They are largely responsible for the cleanliness and hygiene of their homes. Our country has a large number of women who work in this field of “Swatch Bharath”, i.e. cleaning up the villages, towns and cities, playing a vital role in the health and hygiene of the country. This Women’s Day, Mount Carmel thought it fitting and proper to acknowledge and honour the eight such women, the unsung heroines who work for the Mangalore City Corporation under the aegis of St. Antony’s Waste Management System and strive hard to make Mangalore a clean city. If today Mangalore is one of the top 10 clean cities of India, it is only because of these women. The women were escorted to the stage by the students to the vibrant beat of “Chende” and then were honoured with a shawl and gifts in cash and kind by the administrator Sr. Carissima, Principal Sr. Melissa, Coordinator Sr. Marie Lucy and Vice Principal Sr. Lidwyn Pinto. Their gratitude was visible in the tears rolling down their eyes. A lunch was arranged for them in the hall after the programme.

Sr. Carissima, shared her thoughts on the significance of the day. She stated that a woman is a combination of the hardness of a diamond when at work and the softness of a flower in the house.

Sharvini Sanil of class VII B and Reesha Maria Lobo of class VII A delivered the vote of thanks.