Fr. Jacob is the only priest in the country (in the world) who held elected and political office and Diocesan pastoral office simultaneously. He proved that politicians need not be corrupt. His first priority was providing drinking water to all the 87 villages of Kalghatgi Taluka first by rigging bore wells and desilting the existing tanks. Second was to provide bus services to all the 87 villages of Kalghatgi and to Hubli, major town nearest to Kalghatgi and Dharwad the district head quarters. Then he took up electrification of the villages of the Taluka, because electricity was the basic need for most of the utilities especially agricultural. In parallel with these he took up Education as his motto. Lack of education means lack of development. He initiated this by urging government to start primary schools in all the villages of the Taluka. Apart from this, he started the first High school, St. Xavier’s School in Tumarikoppa village, which even today stands out as the model school. Today his efforts have seen many schools, especially, in remote villages of the Taluka imparting education to the rural masses. The Good News College is the first Degree College was opened with altered courses in Computer and Motor Mechanics. He also started St. Mary’s English Medium School, under Vimochana Development Society, which is first English Medium School in the Taluka. As Kalghatgi Taluka is economically under developed, people here could not afford English medium education to their children sending them to Towns and cities and could ill-afford heavy donation and fees. Thus he has named this school as “Save A Family Scheme.” We are charging very low fees and taking no donation whatever. Four batches have passed out scoring 100% results in S.S.L.C. The ‘Maria Prasanna Grihini Training Centre’ now running in its 37th year is unique for the whole State. 30-40 illiterate/uneducated girls are given one year residential training to be ideal housewives and mothers. (Prov. 31.10 sq.) it is totally subsidized for this poor inmates. He carried out his mission through The Good News Welfare Society (R), The Vimochana Development Society (R), The Good News Society for Global Peace (R), 36 Milk Cooperative Society (R), The Kalghatgi Poultry Cooperative Society (R), The Gandhijivan Agricultural Society (R) and a large number of Youth, Child and Women’s Organizations. His never-tiring spirit and energy is flowing in each and every activity of the Society and the School. He organized several programs for their education, social justice and humanitarian cause. He undertook Hunger strike to get school sanction for these tribal people from the Government. As a result primary school was sanctioned for Shivapur Lamani Thanda. He donated his own land for this school and is today is the beacon of education for these backward students. As part of rural development he built Benachi Tank, which was pending for the last 100 or more years. He brought this under food for work scheme.

All these socio-economic development activities of Fr. Jacob P. J. have been timely and aptly recognized by various governmental as well as non-governmental organizations. Here below, few are highlighted.

• Rotary International Best Rotary Award
• Excellence in Ministry National Award by Catholic Priests Conference of India, Bangalore
• National Human Rights Award by Vigil India Movement, Bangalore
• Honorary Doctorate from Karnataka University, Dharwad
• Karnataka Rajyothsava Award 2014, Govt. of Karnataka