Report & Pics: Wilson Saldanha, Shirthady/ Kuwait

Kuwait, Jan 4: Karnataka Branch of Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA), the largest social service organization of Indian nationals in Kuwait organized felicitation of U.T. Khader, Honorable Health and Family Welfare Minister of Karnataka State (India) at Rajadani Palace auditorium in Abraq Khaitan, Kuwait on Friday January 2, 2015. U T Khader was on a visit to Kuwait to attend "Meelad Conference 2015" organized by Karnataka Cultural Foundation Kuwait (KCF).

The programme was commenced with introduction by compere of the day S M Basheer followed by recitation of Holy Qura’n by Master Shuaib. KKMA Central committee Working President B M Iqbal welcomed the audience and explained the role of KKMA towards society in providing various beneficial schemes contributing to the needs of members & their families and the society at large. He also highlighted the social programs conducted by the KKMA such as free medical camps, safe driving awareness seminar and beach cleaning campaigns etc. in the State of Kuwait.

KKMA Chairman Sagheer Trikaripur illustrated the varieties of social projects which KKMA executed successfully during the last 12 years. He also presented a felicitation memento to Minister UT Khader for his outstanding contribution towards the society and successfully implementing various pro-poor healthcare beneficial schemes and promoting quality healthcare in the State of Karnataka.

Hasan A Yusuf submitted a Memorandum to the Minister highlighting the following concerns of Kannadiga NRI’s in Kuwait and requested his intervention and help through the actions by concerned Ministries / authorities in fulfilling these concerns:

1. Govt. to open low cost Kidney Dialysis Centers in each and every District Head Quarters / Taluk Centers of Karnataka State for the benefit of poor patients.

2. Grant Permission for writing CET examination for Karnataka State NRI students and review the fees structure same as being presently charged for local students. It is to be noted that most of the NRI parents are not in a position to pay the huge fees amounts to the colleges in Karnataka State on NRI quotas.

3. Aviation Ministry to grant permission to Jet Airways or other selected Airlines for Direct Flight Services to KUWAIT / MANGALORE sector as more than 130,000 NRI’s from Coastal Karnataka and Northern Kerala in Kuwait are looking for better airline services. Kuwait / MANGALuru / Bengaluru sector can be proposed as this sector is considered to be economically viable. Runway length at Mangalore Int’l airport has to be expanded facilitating the smooth landing of wide body aircrafts.

Nazeer Bolar read the brief introduction of the visiting Minister in a poetic manner. UT Khader in his address said, having good health is very important, each person must know the causes, effects and remedies related to their health issues. He applauded and appreciated the work done by KKMA in the service of humanity. He said that his aim is not to increase the number of hospitals in the State but to increase the awareness about good health and healthy living so that people will be away from deceases and will visits the hospital less.

He quoted that identity should be a factor of contribution instead of factor of possession or position which is temporary and contrary to our current understanding of what gives rank to the people. Therefore, identity is not a name or where we belong instead identity is the factor of what we contribute to the society. The power, status and money is not permanent. People should recognize a person and respect him when he loses power, status and money too.

Khader told that hygiene and cleanliness needs to be made a part of our civic consciousness and there is strong connection between cleanliness, food habits and lifestyle on our overall health & well-being. Present day people are ready to spend hours in the queue for fast food and ignoring health checkups even if it takes couple of minutes for a precautionary detection test. Parents feed their child with fatty, heavy and unhealthy food to make them heavy and plumpy by which the child used to that heavy food which becomes difficult to change the food habit later. He asked everyone to change their food habits according to age, eat healthy and walk sufficient to live healthy. Even though government has introduced many health schemes for BPL, he concerned it has to be extended to APL too as sometimes a APL(Above poverty line) can become BPL (Below Poverty line)after paying heavy bills of hospitals for some deceases. So it is very important to take care of our health to avoid going to hospitals.

He also highlighted the several initiatives being provided by the Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Ministry and said government is very much concerned about the health of the people. Every district of Karnataka already has Kidney Dialysis Centers and targeting to have it in every Taluk but unable to do so due to the requirement of medical staff to run the same. If any person from other states meets an accident in Karnataka, government will spend up to Rs 25,000 for treatment for the first 48 hours. Khader managed to win hearts of the audience with his amazing sense of humor and humble nature.

S M Basheer, an eminent leader of KKMA presented PowerPoint presentation of KKMA’s community service & social welfare activities in healthcare and family benefit sectors. In his presentation it was evident to see the overall financial contribution of KKMA for the past twelve years totaling to Indian Rs 13.5 Crores which is a contribution of an average of Rs 1.1 Crore every year. Branch President Abdul Jabbar Gurupura presented the vote of thanks. A delicious buffet lunch was served at the end.

The other dignitaries who graced the felicitation event were KKMA central committee leaders N.A.Muneer, Akbar Siddik, Ali Matra, Abful Fatah Tayyil, K. Baheer, A.P.Salam, Hamza Payynnur, Ibrahim Kunhil as well as many other leaders from KKMA central committee and various branches, Ravi Raj and Neethu Shetty from Bantara Sanga Kuwait (BSK), Habeeb Koya and Mansoor from Karnataka Cultural Foundation Kuwait (KCF), Diwakar from Kannada Koota, Kuwait (KKK), Anil Fernandes and Naveen Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA), Tharendra Shettigar, Chandrahasa Shetty & Harsha Bandary from Tulukoota Kuwait (TKK), Abdul Kader from Kuwait Islamic Council, Abdul Basheer from Man Haj Al Ambiya, Mohammed Rafeek Manchi from Kuwait India Fraternity Forum (KIFF), B.S. Sharfuddin Soofi, Pascal Pinto and Mohammed Asif, Chairman of Coastaldigest Mangaluru and Amaco, KSA.