Riyadh: Karavali Welfare Association Inaugurated


P.A.Hameed Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, July 12: The inaugural ceremony of Karavali Welfare Association-Riyadh (KWAR) was formally kicked off at Al Khayyam Hotel in Riyadh recently. Iftikhar Ahmed and Rajesh Kumar inaugurated this newly formed association symbolically by unfurling the cloth on its banner. The ceremony was colored with the welcome and introductory speech in Tulu by Parvez Ali followed by  Royston Prabhu inviting the guests to dais.

Khasim Ahmed presented a comprehensive report by visual presentation on various aspects in the past, present and future that led to the formation of KWAR in Riyadh and the brief report of the presentation of memorandum handed to Ratan Ghosh, Chief of Air India in Riyadh, was also brought into light by him.

“It is really a memorable moment; all Mangaloreans stand united for the common cause and have to join their hands in implementing the Association’s aims and objective with priority to the Direct Flight from Riyadh to Mangalore step-by-step” - Vijai Rai said on the occasion in his presidential address pointed at the audience.  Vittal Prabhu addressed the audience by his eloquent speech with suggestions to have the breadth of the scope of KWAR in future even after the initial objective (Direct flight campaign) comes to an end after its implementation and a regular conducting of personality development seminar or workshop.

It is a full-blossomed dream of KWAR to have a direct flight from Riyadh and other parts of Saudi Arabia to Mangalore International Airport. It has now a list of milestone activities to be shaped up to get the initial objective of the Direct flight issue implemented by taking up several schemes like sending emails, letters, presentation of memorandum and delegation to the concerned authorities and political celebrities in the State and Centre. It has now launched the signature campaign from the beneficiaries of the direct flight to be brought to the attention of the concerned.  More than 50,000 Mangaloreans have been working in the Kingdom in various Companies, Establishments, Hospitals, Business sectors and so on. At present, they have to travel to Mangalore from Mumbai and other terminals, which take a longer time to reach their destinations. Their plight sometimes becomes more worst when they go on emergency vacation. So, KWAR requests to all the concerned to recommend to have the direct flight from the Kingdom to Mangalore. The KWAR extends its thankfulness to Rajesh Sequeira from NRI Forum in Dubai, Sarvotham Shetty, President of Tulu Koota in Abu Dhabi and others for their supports and suggestions in the campaign.  

The Inauguration was followed by the cultural programmes like songs, poems-reading etc. in Tulu, Beary, Konkani, Kannada, English and Hindi languages, and attracted the people. Eric and group, Rajesh Kumar, Parvez Ali, Vittal Prabhu and P.A.HameedPadubidri have participated in the event. Rasheed Mangalore, was honored for his long service in the Kingdom for 32 years, with a fabulous prize on this occasion. Royston Prabhu conducted the master of ceremony and gave vote of thanks at end.