At a function virtually organized by the Universal Solidarity Movement (USM) Indore, Honesty Foundation Goa honoured 9 high school students with Honesty Award. The awardees were given Rs. 10001each and a certificate. The event was held on the third day of Knit India organized by the USM.

While addressing more than 500 participants of the function, Mr. Anil D’Souza, a Trustee of Honesty foundation, congratulated the recipients of the awards for their honest way of living, by imbibing and practising ethical and moral values. While appreciating the awardees, he said that honesty is not mere telling the truth, but it is basically being honest to oneself. He appealed to the principals of schools and parents to institute honesty awards in their respective schools and workplaces for promoting honesty.

The awardees are 1) Mrunali Bhiungade of  Auxilium Convent School, Lonawala, M.S. 2) Cruz Joshna of  St. Joseph’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore, T.N. 3) Nilay Rawal,  Carmel Convent Sr. Sec. School, Neemuch,  M. P 4) Komal Chauthe of St. Joseph's English High School, Buldana, M.S. 5) Mabel Jacqueline Fernandes of  St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Faridabad, Haryana 6) Aatra Ansari, St. Mary’s Convent Sr. Sec. School, Bhopal, M.P. 7) Ajinkya Sanjay Ghoratkar of  St. Arnold’s School, Jhartarang, Orissa 8) Bhakti Jugani of  Servite Convent Sr. Sec. School, Hoshangabad, M.P and 9) Sara Qureshi of Carmel Convent School, Gwalior , M.P.

“Why not I do something which nobody has done so far”, asked Bernardo D’Souza, an industrialist from Goa. The answer was the birth of the Honesty Foundation on 30^th December 2012. Instead of lamenting over the spread of corruption, the source of all evils, he decided to promote honesty, the mother of the virtues like love, compassion, kindness and justice.

Bernardo D’Souza has entrusted USM the task of selecting the awardees and organizing the award ceremony every year, and USM has been doing it faithfully from 2012. From 2012 to 2020 honesty awards were given to 67 students for practice of honesty in their lives. The awardees are selected in consultation with the principals of the schools based on the criteria decided by the Honesty Foundation.

Rt. Rev. Chacko Thottumarikkal Bishop of Indore presided over the function. In his address, he appreciated the awardees, saying that honesty manifests the Godless that is present in the human beings. He appreciated the indomitable spirit of Fr. Varghese, the founder of USM, for organizing Knit India online and greeted him on his birthday.

The Chief Guest, Doctor Victor Paul, Head of the Department of Social Work and Sociology of Christ University, Bangalore, in his address emphasized the need for ‘Action and Reflection’ to become an honest person.  Dance performance by the students of Holy Angel’s School, Muzafarnagar, UP added colour to the award function.

Cruz Joshna of St. Joseph’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School Coimbatore thanked the Honesty Foundation and USM on behalf of the awardees. At the outset of meeting, Jacob Peenikaparambil, the Treasurer of USM, welcomed the dignitaries and the participants and Sr. Lissy, principal of St. Mary’s School Allahabad, proposed vote of thank.  Ms. Esha George anchored the award function... Report presented by Jacob Peenikaparambil.