Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: South Goa Member of Parliament Viriato Fernandes on Tuesday urged students to develop the courage to question elected representatives over issues and actions they find unacceptable.
He was speaking at the annual prize distribution ceremony of Shri Nirakar Vidyalaya at Mashem in Canacona.
Addressing the gathering, Fernandes commended the school for its progress across academic, cultural, sports and environmental spheres, despite being located in a rural area. He credited the teaching staff for maintaining high standards and contributing to the institution’s growth.
Referring to the current social and political climate, the MP encouraged students to be aware and assertive. He said young citizens must not hesitate to raise questions on governance and accountability when they encounter actions they consider wrong.
Anant Gajanan Prabhugaonkar, an alumnus of the school and a senior general manager at Vodafone, said the achievements of former students demonstrate that those from rural backgrounds can succeed through dedication and hard work.
Institution president Prashant Naik thanked the teaching staff for sustaining academic excellence and expressed gratitude to the MP for extending financial support to the school through the MPLADS scheme.
Two retired teachers, Gautami Gaad and Ujwala Lolayekar, were felicitated on the occasion for their services to the institution.
Headmistress Urvi Faldesai welcomed the gathering. The programme was compered by Deepa Fernandes and Ashlesha Satoskar, while prize citations were read by Raksha Pagi, Maithili Gunaji, Abhishek Naik and Santosh Tawadkar. The vote of thanks was delivered by Smita Prabhugaonkar.
