Top national scouting award for two Goans

The ‘Silver Elephant’, scouting’s highest national award, has been awarded this year to two Goans, Dr Sidney Pinto do Rosario and R G Desai. The presentation ceremony, at the hands of President Pratibha Patil, will be held at the Ashoka Hall, Rashtrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi, at 11am on September 23.

The Silver Elephant is bestowed on individuals who have provided ‘meritorious service of the most exceptional character’ in the scouting and guiding movement. The last time a Goan was a recipient of this award was 15 years ago.

‘Dr Sidney’, as the gynaecologist is popularly called, has spent more than three decades promoting the scouting movement in the state. At present, he is the senior vice-president of the Goa Bharat Scouts and Guides Association and president of the Bardez district. Incidentally, his father, the late Dr Antonio Pinto do Rosario, was the first president of this movement.

Desai, who hails from Ponda, retired from the post of development officer at the Life Insurance Corporation of India. He devotes much of his time to social work and to his scouting duties. He has been recently promoted as vice-president of the association.

TOI has also learnt that Dr Sidney will be honoured by the Indian Medical Association, Goa state, during the XXI Gimacon 2009, to be held on September 26 at a starred hotel in Varca. Health minister Vishwajit Rane will present the award, which is given annually to Goan doctors who by their academic excellence and dedication contribute greatly to the field of medicine and also towards society at large. Dr Sidney runs the Dr Antonio Pinto do Rosario Maternity Hospital, Porvorim, the oldest existing maternity hospital in Goa, which was founded by his father in 1938.