Mangaluru Press Club Award for woman ambulance driver

MANGALURU: A woman who has made significant contributions to society as an ambulance driver in the city has been selected for the first 'Mangaluru Press Club Award'. C S Radhika, 43, who has been serving as an ambulance driver with her own vehicle since 2002, was adjudged the right candidate for the award that Mangaluru Press Club instituted from this year. A jury including former vice-chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi, Viveka Rai, veteran theatre artist Sadananda Suvarna and Rita Noronha, professor, school of social work, Roshini Nilaya selected Radhika for the award. A woman being different in choosing a career, zest for a self-reliant life, willingness to work and her strong willpower were the qualities in Radhika that made the jury select her for the award. The honour for Radhika will send a new message to the society, the jury opined. Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police S D Sharanappa will bestow award on Radhika during Mangaluru Press Club Day celebrations to be held at Urwa Church Hall on December 22. The award will comprise Rs 10,001 and a citation, said Press Club general secretary Guruvappa N T Balepuni. Radhika, who is a resident of Kulai Gudda, had commenced her ambulance service with the title 'Cauvery' in 2002. Radhika, who is residing along with her mother at Kulai Gudda, has two daughters studying for degree and PUC. She was living in rented house at Padavinangady and Kulai before owning a house at Kulai Gudde. The tragic death of husband C S Suresh made Radhika to continue the ambulance service as its driver. Suresh, who owned an ambulance vehicle, had taught Radhika driving before he succumbed to cancer in 2002. With two children of seven and four years, Radhika took up the responsibility of family in a different role. At present, she is the owner of 10 ambulances. Radhika receives calls at any time and ready to accept a trip even if it is of 1,000 km. She had driven ambulances taking patients or corpses to various places in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and to Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Balepuni said. -TOI