Sr. Mary Mascarenhas of St. Joseph's of Tarbes (SJT) joined Sumanahalli in 1978, before which she had 15 years' of experience in teaching. Initially, she taught the children of the leprosy patients who were denied admission in the regular schools. Her rehabilitation and placement programme is family-centered. Sr. Mary has been able to find placement for about 50% of the cases registered until 1995. Her efforts to get the Government notification providing reservation to the leprosy cured have been commendable, to say the least!

Sr. Mascarenhas has received numerous awards for her outstanding efforts and achievements for the welfare of the disabled. Here are some of them:

• * 1989: National Award for Placement Officer.
• * 1990: Sri Seva Samithi Award
• * 1992: Rajyotsava Award
• * 2001: State Award for Best Worker for the Disabled
• * 2003: Kuvempu Award