Ex-princy of Roshni Nilaya passes away

MANGALURU: Olinda Pereira, an eminent social worker and former principal of School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, passed away on Sunday. She was 95.
Born on August 15, 1925, she did her BA from St Agnes College, Mangaluru, MA from Banaras Hindu University and PhD from Mysore University. Born into a Catholic family in Falnir at Mangaluru, as the youngest of three sisters, Rita Olinda Periera embraced the religious order of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary (DHM). She pioneered social work education in the state of Karnataka by setting up the School of Social Work Roshini Nilaya in 1960, under the auspices of the Institute of Social Service which offers BSW, MSW, and PhD degrees, apart from other courses affiliated to Mangalore University. She retired in 1984, after serving as principal of Roshni Nilaya for 20 years.
Olinda Pereira promoted women’s education and development in several states. She has left an indelible mark in the state of Karnataka, India and overseas.
She launched Vishwas Trust in 1999, during the International Year for the Elderly. Its objective was community work, setting up day centres, geriatric care services and field practice centres. Vishwas Trust, in collaboration with government and city police, tried to reach out to the elderly in need with its 24-hour service distress helpline 1090 and 2421190.