Nine dynamic women were felicitated by Rotary Club of Panaji Riviera with Vocational Appreciation Awards. These remarkable women broke the stereotypes in profession, which are traditionally considered to be a man’s domain.
The award-winning women are as follows:
•Christie Dias – Plumber : A national-level volleyball player and now a plumber.
• Harsha Naik – Lifeguard hailing from Bicholim, 26-year-old Harsha Naik comes from a family of swimmers.
• Kanchan Naik Vengurlekar – Ex. Asst. Police inspector.
• Disha Naik – Aerodrome Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) Crash Tender Operator, India’s first certified woman firefighter to operate a crash fire tender (CFT).
• Sasha Saldanha – Captain, Indigo Airlines; from Parra village in North Goa.
• Shilpa Vantekar – Pink auto driver from Corlim.
• Shabeena Shaikh – 2-Wheeler Mechanic from village of Socorro.
• Shweta Gaonkar – Sanguem-based Agriculturist & Toddy Tapper, has a BA degree in Agriculture.
• Joaquina Perpetual Castellino – elderly Care-Giver of 74 years Age, from Guirim Bardez.
President of Rotary Club of Panaji Riviera, Rtn. Denzil Xavier emphasised on the message that accompanies the initiative. “By awarding them, we are encouraging them and inspiring other women to take up such professions,” he said.
Rtn. Maithili Nadkarni and Rtn. Clare De Souza were instrumental in identifying the awardees
Deepali Naik, Project Director DRDA, South; and Fiona Cardozo, Dy Director of Panchayats, North, graced the felicitation programme.
