by BISMumbai Correspondent

MumbaiSalesians' Don Bosco Development Society [DBDS], the Province Planning and Development Office [PDO] has sustained a relentless COVID-19 relief outreach programme throughout the last 10 months. Thanks to generous and large-hearted funding/donor-partners, and its army of forefront activist-staff/implementing partners, DBDS has managed COVID-19 specific outreach to over 07 lakh [DBDS COVID-19 Outreach Stats] most vulnerable children, young people, women and families. These COVID-Warriors were felicitated and appreciated on 02 February 2021 at a glittering ceremony for their tireless and daring, overcoming monumental odds [COVID-Warriors felicitation visuals].

A coordinated venture led by DBDS Executive-Director, Father Rolvin D'Mello, with his team of dedicated, determined and daring warriors ventured forth out of the comfort of their homes, risking health and lives to ensure that the unreached poor were assisted with provision, toiletries and other life-essentials. The extensive outreach through the 40 MumbaiSalesians' institutions/presences in the fragile impoverished settlements of Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik, Vadodara, Ahmednagar-Beed, and in the hinterlands of Gujarat [Kawant, Chhotaudepur, Narukot, Kapadvanj, Dakor], Maharashtra [Jawahar-Palghar], MadhyaPradesh [Alirajpur] and Rajasthan [Suket], would not have been possible but for the never-say-die gutsy spirit of the frontline warriors.

MumbaiSalesians' Provincial Father Savio Silveira, Vice-Provincial Father Ashley Miranda, Economer Father Manuel Murzello, Councillor for Youth Ministry and Communications-Father Glenford Lowe were present for the occasion. Also present and felicitated, were volunteer COVID-Warriors - Dr. Suhani Mendonsa [Lokmat Lifestyle 2020 Icon, and Director-Yellow Spider Events and the Mendonsa Foundation]; Bindu Chaddha [Learning Support Counsellor-Don Bosco International School Matunga]; and Rupesh Bangera [Flight Steward SpiceJet] - who assiduously made themselves available to help DBDS reach out with relief. MumbaiSalesians' Father McEnroe Lopes and Brother Bryce Fernandes were also felicitated on the occasion.

Father D'Mello profusely thanked and congratulated not only the 25 COVID-Warriors present for the ceremony, but all the COVID-Warriors across the MumbaiSalesians' presences, saying, "if it were not for the committed resolve, sacrificing spirit, consistent availability and courage of these our warriors, this relief outreach to aid the most vulnerable marginalised would not have been achieved." He further added, "I also place on record the magnanimity of our funder-donors whose financial aid and consistent support ensured the procurement and distribution logistics."

The COVID-Warriors felicitated were: