Tariq Ahmad Patloo, 51, says he is grateful to the PM for appreciating his efforts, yet, he remains unmoved by the fame because successive governments have done nothing for the Hanjis- the dwellers of waters in the Dal and other lakes of Kashmir Valley.
The floating ambulance by Tariq Ahmad Patloo on Dal Lake in Srinagar (Image: ANI)
Houseboat owner Tariq Ahmad Patloo, who converted his boat into a floating ambulance to ferry COVID-19 patients on the Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, found mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on June 27.
Fifty-one-year -old Patloo, who lives with his mother, wife and daughter, along with thousands of others in the houseboats stationed in the world-famous Lake of Srinagar, had designed the free floating ambulance service after he recovered from COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in August last year.
Tariq Ahmad Patloo
Patloo, who owns the house boat named ‘Sea Palace’, apart from the ambulance, is grateful to the Prime Minister for appreciating his efforts. But, he is unmoved by the fame because of the grudge that successive governments have not done anything for the Hanjis- the ethnic community who are dwellers of waters in the Dal and other lakes of Kashmir Valley.”I can’t thank the Prime Minister enough for mentioning me in his address. But I would have been happier if the Centre, or the state, may have done something for the progress of our community.” Patloo told MoneyControl.
Hanjis living in about 900 houseboats, Patloo said, have been living in misery for years. “No one care for us. They talked about rehabilitation, nothing happened. They said they will relocate us, nothing happened. We do not have even a dispensary here. No one has been ever given a government job. We have had enough promises,” he said.
Patloo is not the only member from his family to catch Prime Minister Modi’s attention. In 2018, the PM praised his eight-year-old daughter Jannat’s efforts for cleaning Dal Lake.
“We don’t need money. We need to live a respectful life, like any other community,” he said.
During his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme the PM appreciated Patloo’s novel idea of a boat ambulance.
“Here a boat ambulance service was started at Dal Lake. This service was started by Tariq Ahmad Patloo ji of Srinagar, who is a houseboat 0wner. He himself has also fought the battle with COVID-19 and this inspired him to start the ambulance service,” the Prime Minister said in the 78th edition of the address.
Patloo said he thought of setting up the ambulance out of his personal experience. He had faced difficulties to reach the hospital from Dal waters when he contracted the disease. He was in home isolation for the first few days but had to be hospitalised at downtown Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital after his health deteriorated.
“I had a difficult time in reaching the shore of the Dal Lake. I cannot even tell you how my family managed to take me to the hospital,” said Patloo.
The ambulance comes equipped with PPE kits, stretchers, wheelchair and other healthcare amenities. It also provides oxygen cylinders to the needy besides generating awareness regarding COVID-19 appropriate behavior.
Jammu and Kashmir reported 415 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths in the last 24 hours. As many as 46,148 fresh COVID-19 cases and 979 deaths were recorded across the country in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said.
source: http://www.moneycontrol.com / Money Control / Home> News> India> Trending Topics / by Gulam Jeelani / June 28th, 2021
On the day of Diwali a record was stored in files of medical service. As many as six hundred ailing patients were checked and medical treatment provided by top doctors of the Jharkhand government run hospital RIMS.
Their aim was to pay tributes to the departed soul of a RIMS doctor Dr Siraj Uddin who had died due to COVID-19 this year. All patients were provided free medical service inside Siraj Memorial Hospital in Giridih.
The medical aid was part of free medical camp held to screen people for blood Sugar, Cardiac complications.
All doctors and nurses of Siraj Memorial Hospital included Dr M. S. Ahmad, Dr Ahmad Sharfuddin Dr Syed Azaz Hashmi, Dr Alimuddin, Dr Md Khurshid Ansari, Dr Nayeem Akhtar, Dr Shadab Hassan(MS,Surgery,RIMS) Dr Syed Md Sharique (MS,Surgery,SR,RIMS), Dr Shefa Habib, Dr Md Arif Tauheed, Dr Md Shafique Alam, Dr Md Ragheeb Tauheed, Dr Saquib jamal (MBBS,HS,RIMS), Dr Prerna Nag, Dr Binita Agarwal,Dr Abdul Zafar, Dr Hasnain, Dr Fuzail Akram, Dr Iqbal Hassan, Dr Md Athar Alam, Dr Saddam, Dr Rehan.
Dr M.S.Ahmad said, his hospital is committed to serve the public. “This was our first medical camp after the pandemic patients had complained of rise in blood sugar and BP after recovery from Covid-19.
Through free check-ups, people knew if they needed consultation and treatment. Many were referred to RIMS HOSPITAL Ranchi , Than for further investigation and treatment,” said Sabir Warsi, and chairperson Dr M. K. Uddin.
“More such free camps for the poor are needed. Moneyed people should come forward and hold such camps across the Ghorthamba city, according to Dr M. S. Akhtar.
The spokesperson of the Siraj Memorial Hospital said, “This is was this year’s biggest medical camp which included tests for diabetes and, cardiac even cancer. There was a doctor for consultation in” EYE” and “ENT”treatment too. The purpose was to detect the after-effects of Rural Poor Patients. It was also held to remove hesitancy among some people about getting vaccinated for child .”
source: http://www.jharkhandstatenews.com / Jharkhand State News / Home> Top Stories / by admin (headline edited) / November 05th, 2021
Kobi Bagan Mosque with the support of Roti Bank has been offering free meals and ration kits to the poor for seven years in a row.
Volunteers of Roti Bank distribute dinners to the needy (file pictures) | Pictures: Arranged
Kolkata:
At a time when mosques across India are being targeted, a mosque in Central Kolkata has chosen to open its door to the hungry, irrespective of one’s faith. Like the langars of Gurudwaras, Kobi Bagan Masjid, Park Circus not has been providing free dinner to the poor but also ration kits for the last seven years.
What began as an experimental Roti Bank way back in 2016 went on to become a centre, which helps the poor and destitute in several ways. It also provided meals and rations during the pandemic and Amphan cyclone in West Bengal.
The initiative is the collaboration between Kobi Bagan Masjid and Living Humanity, a non-government organization (NGO). The mosque located near Aliah University, Beniapukur has offered Living Humanity its premise to provide dinner for the destitute. They now have more than fifty people including non-Muslims among regular beneficiaries.
The idea, a brain-child of Faiz Anwar, a Chartered Accountant and Rashid Jameel, a Software Engineer began running a roti bank, in the hope of ensuring that none in the area go to sleep with an empty stomach.
“Inspired by someone in Aurangabad running a roti bank, I along with a few like-minded friends thought of starting it in Kolkata, So, we began it outside my residence, after taking permission from the police,” Faiz Anwar of Living Humanity told eNewsroom,
However, this was just the beginning of something big. “As numbers grow, we need a bigger space. So we talked to the masjid management, who happily agreed. And, when we interacted with the beneficiaries, it made us realise that providing roti won’t solve the problem. So, we thought of providing free meals and then even went on to provide free rations. Just like, during Ramazan we provide ration kits. We also give monthly ration kits to those who have a family,” recounts Anwar, a chartered accountant by profession and a philanthropist by passion.
CA Faiz Anwar (blue t-shirt) with his team distribute clothes to the beneficiaries | Pictures: Facebook/Roti Bank
On being asked about the poster put up on the walls of Kobi Bagan Mosque that talks about free meals being provided from the premises of the mosque and how they got into a working collaboration with the mosque, he elaborated, “I believe that places like mosques need to be more socially active. It has a role to play in society. We, with this belief, approached the working committee of the mosque with a proposal of using a portion of the mosque premise to distribute meals and ration to those in need.”
Confirming the same was Shakir Ali, a member of the working committee of the mosque, “Yes, we are in an association with Living Humanity, provide the meal and ration which get distributed from our premises.”
However, during the pandemic, when we were confined to our homes, mosques were shut, and then Living Humanity reached out to the areas outside Kolkata that needed help during the lockdown. “Working in close association with Helping Hand we reached out to the pandemic as well as Amphan cyclone-affected people. We worked in Nandigram, Canning Ghutari and Mazdurpara during the pandemic, reaching out to around 5000 families during this time.”
Living Humanity and Helping Hand, founded by Miran Ahmed have done several projects jointly.
“A major work that we did during the pandemic was distribution of free oxygen cylinders. It still runs today from the premises of another mosque Tanti Bagh Ahle-Hadith masjid. There were at least 1000 patients who benefited from the cylinders we had distributed,” said the CA.
After the restrictions were over, they began functioning like earlier, from the Kobi Bagan Mosque.
To avail the free meal or ration, one need not be a Muslim by faith, the food or items are distributed to those in need irrespective of their religious beliefs.
“Some of our beneficiaries are non-Muslims. The idea is to help those in need,” said Anwar.
So, how does it work?
Can anyone take the benefit or do they have a roster?
“Initially, it was a first-come, first-serve policy that we followed. However, we began to notice that we were having follow-up visits by many. So, we began interacting with them and now we have a roster. We hand out coupons to regular visitors. The ration is provided to those, who have more than two family members queuing up for meals. Dinner is available for any single person coming to the mosque in search of food around 9 pm,” said Jameel, the co-founder of Living Humanity.
Talking about the future plans, Anwar added, “We plan to do a lot more social upliftment work through Kolkata Masajid Association. We will try to reach out to a larger section of the society, who are sleeping empty stomach.”
source: http://www.enewsroom.in / eNewsRoomIndia / Home> Bengal> Inclusive India / by Staff Reporter / April 16th, 2023
Interview of Jharkhand’s Covid-19 Warrior– IPS Dr Ehtesham Waquarib
IPS Dr Ehtesham Waqarieb, SP Jamshedpur (GRP)
Dr Ehtesham Waquarib has donned many a hat in his career. The 34-year-old Indian Police Officer (IPS), before donning his olive uniform used to work as a doctor in Community Medicine with the World Health Organization (WHO). At a time when India is facing the challenge to combat Covid-19 like the rest of the world, IPS Dr Waquarib has come forward with a 60-day plan for his district – East Singhbhum to take on the highly contagious coronavirus in Jharkhand’s most industrialized belt. The 2015 batch IPS, an AMU alumni took out time from his busy schedule as the SP Jamshedpur (GRP) to answer some pertinent questions for our readers, in an email interview with eNewsroom:
Q: What’s the master plan designed by you? How will it help to fight Corona Virus threat?
A: I am leading the containment-cum-surveillance team of East Singbhum. I meet doctors, magistrates and police officials of this area, with the intention of bettering the coordination among them, to tackle Covid-19 pandemic in a better way.
The team comprising over 1000 members, does not only work for the containment and surveillance of Covid-19. They have also been taught and counselled on a daily basis to increase public participation.
In the past, I have worked as a doctor in Community Medicine. This experience, has helped me in preparing a road map of next 60 days. My study of MBBS and MD has helped me in understanding the epidemiology of Covid-19.
We have applied this knowledge to procure items to well equip East Singhbhum’s Sadar hospitals, Community Health Center (CHC)s and Primary Health Center (PHC)s. We have also roped in private hospitals to ease the pressure on government hospitals.
Even minor details like – preparing duty rosters for doctors for better efficiency, making arrangements for more beds, assessing the number of ICU and ventilators that will be needed, is being noted. A detailed report on the number of Viral Transmission Media (VTM)s, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)s, gloves masks, pulse and oximeters among others will be needed, is being prepared.
We are facilitating training of healthcare professionals and technicians so that they can protect themselves when treating patients with Covid-19. It is our top most priority, as we are seeing that healers are the most affected by the contagious virus.
We are using Telemedicine to reach remote areas of Jharkhand, thereby enabling people to directly interact with doctors as well as specialists. This has cut down unnecessary visits to medical centres in the time of social distancing which lessen the burden on doctors and patients too. We have also introduced a helpline number for psychological counseling.
Disinfection chambers have also been set up at hospitals for medical staffs and for other essential services staffs.
Mobile sample collection booths have been initiated to reach far-flung areas. It will decrease risk posed to both health care persons and public at large.
We are also isolating districts to map the possible hotspots. My active surveillance team members are conducting door-to-door screening. We have also begun an aggressive contact tracing campaign to identify those affected and have them sent to the quarantine centre.
Q: Who will be covered in this plan?
A: I lead the containment-cum-surveillance team of district East Singhbhum (Jamshedpur) of Jharkhand which has a 23 lakh population- roughly the size of Australia. This population comprises both urban and rural folks. It’s one of the most industrialised area of Jharkhand.
IPS Dr Ehtesham (second from right) while a volunteer work as a doctor in Nagpur (file picture)
Q: How you are implementing these plans? Are you satisfied from the plan?
A: I am taking regular meetings with the members to daily monitor surveillance teams.
The teams under SP Jamshedpur (GRP) consists of mainly ADM Law & Order, Civil Surgeon and District Surveillance Officer and all administrative officers (BDO, CO, Ex-Magistrate and Medical officers) are by default working for this.
We have also engaged professors and students of XLRI Jamshedpur to train our surveillance workers. They are of really great help in our endeavour.
There is also a reward system for the better performing teams.
All the travelers from other Indian states using station footfalls in last few days before lockdown were made to undergo institutional quarantine or home quarantine on the basis of thermal scanner and checklists put at railway stations. Regular follow up is being done by making phone calls twice a day. In case of any SOS our medical team immediately rushes to the spot.
Data of foreign travelers in the last 3 months is being scrutinized, house to house tracing, advising home quarantine, isolating and sampling of those who are fulfilling ICMR guideline.
Thousands of ground workers are working on the field, doing active surveillance and 100 lab technicians are ready to collect samples throughout the district.
Our borders are perfectly sealed and police is continuously keeping a tab on people coming in or going out of Jharkhand. All medical emergency and essential items have been provided for the border area.
Models and dashboards have been made to track the work done as well performance of such a large army of ground workers.
Till April 18, we have collected and tested over 400 samples as per ICMR guidelines. The results were negative.
No positive case in East Singhbhum in last 28 days. On the way to be declared ‘Green Zone’.
I am very much satisfied with our team work.
Q: Is it funded by Railway or in association with state and central government?
A: No it’s not funded by the railway. I am voluntarily giving my service to my place of positing and my home state Jharkhand. But whatever, I am doing is in association with the state government.
Q: Do you have any specific plan to deal with migrant workers?
A: The issue of migrant workers is being looked after by district administration itself.
Q: Apart from Railway coaches prepared as quarantine centre in what other ways do you think Railway can help to fight from the Corona threat?
A: Railways is successfully providing movement of essential goods throughout the country when all mode of transport have completely come to a halt, it’s truly the lifeline of our country.
Salute to such Covid-19 warriors!
source: http://www.enewsroom.in / eNewsRoomIndia / Home> Corona Corner> Jharkhand / by Staff Reporter / April 19th, 2020
Thumbay Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Hospital honoured Prof Dr U T Ifthikar Ali, chairman of the Allied & Healthcare Council Karnataka, with the prestigious “Star of the Year” award during the 4th International annual conference on “Innovation in Rehabilitation Practice and Medicine” held at Thumbay Medicity in Ajman.
Dr Ifthikar, a distinguished educationist, healthcare professional, sports enthusiast, and social activist, has played a vital role in overseeing allied and paramedical colleges across Karnataka. His remarkable efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, where he tirelessly worked for the welfare of the people, were particularly highlighted during the ceremony.
Dr Thumbay Moideen, founder president of Thumbay Group, commended Dr Ifthikar for his unwavering commitment to the fields of education and healthcare. He stated, “Dr. Ifthikar Ali embodies the spirit of hard work and compassion, especially during challenging times like the pandemic. His contributions have not only enriched the education sector but have also significantly improved healthcare delivery in Karnataka. We are confident that he will continue to be a catalyst for positive change in society.”
The felicitation ceremony was made even more special by the presence of Sheikh Dr Majid Bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, chairman of the ruler’s court, Ajman, further emphasising the importance of the occasion.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Ifthikar expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition. It serves as a motivation to continue my efforts in enhancing healthcare and education in our community. Together, we can create a better future for the next generation.”
The 4th international annual conference on “Innovation in Rehabilitation Practice and Medicine”, held at Thumbay Medicity in Ajman, served as a pivotal platform for discussing advancements in rehabilitation and healthcare. Esteemed healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry leaders gathered to share insights and explore innovative practices that enhance patient care.
The conference featured talks focused on emerging therapies and technologies, including the integration of holistic approaches in rehabilitation. This year’s event highlighted Thumbay Healthcare’s commitment to leading the way in healthcare innovation, emphasising the importance of collaboration in addressing the evolving needs of patients, particularly the elderly population.
The conference not only celebrated achievements in the field but also nurtured networking and knowledge-sharing among participants dedicated to improving rehabilitation practices.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Karnataka / by Media Release / October 19th, 2024
Aamir Qutub, an India-born entrepreneur and CEO of Australian IT multinational Enterprise Monkey, has been awarded the 2024 India Australia Business and Community Alliance (IABCA) Young Professional of the Year Award. The accolade recognizes his exceptional contributions to entrepreneurship and social service in Australia.
Upon receiving the award, Qutub expressed his gratitude in a conversation with Radiance from Australia. “More than a decade ago, when I left my hometown for Australia, I never imagined standing in the grand Parliament Hall, receiving an international award in the presence of the Prime Minister. I am deeply humbled and honored to have received the 2024 IABCA Young Professional of the Year Award.”
Reflecting on his journey, Aamir shared, “This recognition is not just about my individual efforts but highlights the power of community support. From my early days in India to establishing myself in Australia, the backing of people around me has been crucial. This award is for my work as a founder and CEO, where we have created jobs and contributed to the local economy. Our initiative, Angel Next Door, played a key role in helping over 100,000 Australians during the COVID-19 crisis.”
Aamir also offered advice to emerging entrepreneurs in India, encouraging them to pursue their dreams, regardless of their background.
“I come from a middle-class family in a small Tier 3 city, but I dared to dream big. The journey was not easy, but persistence, adaptability, and continuous learning made it possible. Your background does not define your future – your determination does. Every small step you take today contributes to tomorrow’s success,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey, Aamir acknowledged the many people and institutions that played a role in his success.
“From the regional city of Aligarh and the nurturing environment at AMU, where I laid my foundation, to the vibrant city of Geelong, where Deakin University provided me with a platform to grow – this journey has been shaped by countless hands and hearts,” he added.
A proud alumnus of AMU, Aamir has received numerous accolades, including being a finalist for the Australian Young Business Leader Award. He was the youngest General Manager of ICT Geelong and also served as Digital Manager for Australian Sports Tech Network. In the early stages of his career, Aamir worked as a cleaner during the day and a newspaper delivery boy at night to fund his startup. He has also demonstrated his commitment to social causes by spending a night on the streets with other CEOs to experience the life of homelessness, raising awareness for Australians without shelter.
Aamir’s professional journey began with Honda Cars India as a Production Manager before he co-founded the Stand India Foundation, a not-for-profit social venture. He holds an MBA in Information Management from Deakin University and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from AMU, where he served as General Secretary of the AMU Students’ Union.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Award> Markers of Excellence> Latest News / by Radiance News Bureau / October 07th, 2024
During the months of lockdown last year, NSS units in colleges across Gujarat mobilized resources for food, masks, sanitation.
More than 5,000 student volunteers associated with NSS units in universities carried out COVID relief projects during the initial phase of lockdown
New Delhi :
The risk of contracting a life-threatening virus and the lockdown did not discourage Shaikh Afzal, a final year student of LD Engineering College, Ahmedabad from stepping out to collect food grain for the people in need.
A volunteer with the government-led National Service Scheme, in his case the NSS unit of Gujarat Technological University, Afzal felt the need to be on the ground despite the inhibitions of his family members. While the country was under a nation-wide lockdown in March last year, volunteers like Afzal risked their lives to help migrant workers stranded for days without supplies.
“I have faced a shortage of food for days at home during the lockdown and I understood their situation. They have extremely limited means. I decided to help them despite the risks,” said Afzal who resides with his 70-year-old grandmother and five other family members. He spent two months distributing food kits in various parts of Ahmedabad.
Soon after the central government announced the countrywide shutdown to control the spread of the coronavirus, a wide range of problems emerged, especially for the working class. The lockdown was extended for nearly four more months. Having lost their jobs, thousands of migrant workers attempted to leave major cities for home. In the absence of food reserves, many were pushed into starvation and others struggled to make ends meet.
Like Afzal, more than 5,000 student volunteers associated with NSS units in universities across Gujarat carried out COVID relief projects during the initial phase of lockdown. From providing masks, hand sanitizers and dry ration kits, to managing large crowds along with the police, students participated in several measures.
Prompt relief in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, one of the major cities employing daily wage workers and construction workers from bordering states, experienced food shortages amid the extended lockdown. NSS units in various colleges kicked into action to provide ground relief.
Along with Afzal, a team of 15 NSS and National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers in coordination with Ahmedabad’s district magistrate’s office conducted an extensive COVID relief drive. The team under the leadership of Chaitanya Sanghvi, the college’s NSS program officer, raised Rs. 3.69 lakh in donations from teachers and students’ parents to arrange for food kits. The volunteers distributed more than 12,500 kits in two months.
“A lot of parents were concerned about their [students’] health but my personal assurance that COVID safety measures will be taken while helping others made them feel confident,” said Sanghvi. “The students were given training by the GIDM [Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management] on how to respond to various challenges on the field,” he added.
Student of LD Engineering College, Ahmedabad distributing ration kits
Each day, for nearly two months, the team distributed 500 kits that sustained families of four for at least 10 days. On several occasions, the team members recalled being overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation on the ground. “Every day we would find a new challenge before us. We had to be cautious about our own safety while maintaining safe distance among those who came to collect the kits. The chaos escalated at times and we had to call the local police to maintain order,” said Deval Naika, a final-year mechanical engineering student.
The relief work began with 16 volunteers but the group expanded into a large team of 100 students after the initial phase of the project ended in success. The students were asked to work on the field in rotation. The effort, according to Sanghvi, helped families that were severely starved amid the lockdown. “I remember providing a food kit to a migrant worker’s family of 12 members. They told me that they were going to eat solid food after 12 days of starvation. There were small kids delighted at the sight of food. I will never forget that day,” recalled Sanghvi.
The team, in a tie-up with the Indian Red Cross Society, also conducted a blood donation drive for thalassemia major patients who were facing a shortage of blood supply during the lockdown. To allay the fear of blood donors, the team remotely reached out to the willing donors on mobile donation vans in various parts of Ahmedabad.
Porda village, Anand
Another NSS volunteer, Kishan Nileshkumar Dave, studying in Natubhai V. Patel College of Pure and Applied Sciences, Vallabh Vidyanagar, managed to provide relief to 100 families in his village, Porda, in Anand district. The volunteers carried out a multifaceted relief drive which included the distribution of food, masks, sanitizing common gathering areas and distribution of Ayurvedic immunity boosters.
Dave and his group of 10 volunteers started a fundraiser to provide relief to the families struggling without any financial help in the period of lockdown. With the help of the village sarpanch and some of its well-heeled families, Dave managed to collect enough funds to feed the hungry for more than a month.
“The money was utilized to cook food and deliver to each villager in need. We also maintained meticulous records of people who require urgent help and avoided missing out on anyone who needed attention,” said Dave. This group also served food to the policemen and health-workers on COVID-19 duty.
The team also engaged local tailors to sew 2,100 masks to be distributed in the community. In this way, they supplied masks to 920 families of the village and surrounding areas.
The volunteers also prepared herbal tonic under the supervision of the Ayurvedic Aushadhi Kendra of a nearby village, Aradi, and distributed it in Porda and the surrounding areas. Around 1,500 villagers received the immunity booster.
In addition, Dave also conducted a sanitization drive for 20 days. “Providing food and masks was not enough, we also used a sprayer machine and fogging machine provided by the Gram Panchayat and sanitized all the streets, milk collection centres, banks, and other areas of the village,” said Dave. Close to 900 houses of the village were sanitized. The volunteers also raised awareness among the villagers about the significance of personal hygiene, wearing the mask, washing hands frequently, and maintaining social distance.
As the lockdown caused huge losses for the farmers, this group brought vegetables from the village farmers and sold them at fair price to the villagers and residents of slum areas of the village like Indira Nagari. While some group members sold the vegetables, others helped maintain social distancing among the buyers.
Food delivery on national highway
With education institutions shut for months, many students had left the college campuses. They planned to contribute from home. Several NSS volunteers of Vishwakarma Engineering College, Ahmedabad, stepped up to help the migrant workers heading home along the National Highway eight. “Our NSS volunteers living close to the NH provided home-cooked food whenever possible to several families traveling on foot. Since the lockdown was sudden, it was difficult to provide funds. Therefore, each student utilised their own resources,” said Shiza Sheikh, a second-year student of electronics and communication.
At the beginning of COVID-19 lockdown, to meet the sudden rise in demand of masks, the students also distributed 1,500 hand-stitched masks from unused cloth they found at home and distributed it in various parts of Gujarat. “Even though students were scattered throughout the state, the NSS volunteers of our college were determined to help people who were in need. The students learned how to make masks through YouTube videos or by learning stitching from their parents,” Sheikh added.
source: http://www.news.careers360.com / News Careers360 / Home / by R Radhika / April 24th, 2021
Shaheen Bagh: From ‘Anti-National’ to Nation Saviour Author: Asad
Don’t judge a book by the cover, they say. But in this book, the cover has a lot going for it. The photo is arresting. A Muslim man, dressed in a PPE suit and a white skullcap, holding an oxygen cylinder. His eyes stare right at the reader. COVID narratives are all over mainstream and alternative media. There have been films made on the pandemic; featuring some testimonies and narratives. But overall, they have been a discomfiting read. Many people, despite appreciating the quality of the film, found themselves struggling to get through films such as Bheed (2023), a stirring black-and-white account of the workers’ migration and the quarantine. No one wishes to revisit some of the darkest times in recent history. It is also perhaps too soon. 2023 was perhaps the first year since the pandemic resembling full ‘normalcy’. But where is the normalcy for those who suffered directly from it? Asad’s book is a haunting testimony to those days, particularly in Delhi.
Ask any Delhiite and they will tell you that the sound of ambulances in those times is not forgotten. This book too, takes you back into those days. Many videos of families stranded outside hospitals with no knowledge of their loved ones come back to mind as you flip through the pages. A large chunk of Asad’s narrative is based in Jamia Nagar and Okhla. The award-winning journalist brings to life familiar names and familiar losses.
Resilience is a common term that comes to mind in times of great tragedy. Cities that suffer great loss are called resilient. They bounce back. Resilience is a running theme here too. When you reach the end of the book and you can feel the sirens slowing down for a while, you breathe a sigh of relief. But then, you think – the book might be over, but the trauma isn’t, for many families. Does resilience need to go hand in hand with justice, restoration and adequate redressal?
There are many parts of the book that highlight and centre the subtitle of the book – from ‘anti-national’ to nation saviour.
Muslims became the target of a media campaign. Members of the Tablighi Jamaat were unfairly arrested and held responsible for the pandemic. Shaheen Bagh had been cleared forcefully. A pogrom ripped through the city. The facts do not need to be repeated but recalled. Muslims emerged to fight back against this narrative and help out their own; people set up helplines, task forces, did everything in their human capacity to help others even at great human risk. Asad, with the true quality of a journalist, does not gloss over failures or places where more efficiency was needed.
The book, unfortunately, like many other self-publishing efforts was in dire need of a good editor. There are errors and lack of standardisation that can be corrected if a second edition emerges. The book also needed more structure to make it clearer; in parts, the book reads like news reports and first-person narratives running into one. However, as an act of record-keeping, it is a vital contribution and a brave effort, and must be supported.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus> Review Article / by Shayma S / Radiance News Bureau / February 08th, 2024
Deralakatte Renjali (Ullal Taluk),Mangaluru, KARNATAKA / Saudi Arabia/ UAE:
Dr Abdul Shakeel has been selected for the coveted Asia Achievers award given by Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre Colombo and High Commission of India Colombo for his social service including providing rice to more than 10000 eligible families cutting across religion and caste during Covid pandemic, adopting students who are financially poor and encouragement to outstanding students.
The award will be presented by Vidura Vikramanayake, minister for religious and cultural affairs, government of Sri Lanka and higher education minister of Sri Lanka Surena Raghavan at the 40th International cultural convention that is organized on August 25 at the auditorium of University of Visual and Performing Arts in Sri Lanka.
Dr Abdul Shakeel is the son of Abdul Khader Harekala and Maimuna couple, residents of Deralakatte Renjadi under Ullal taluk.
He is NRI entrepreneur having business interest in gulf countries. Dr Shakeel is the managing director of MMA Advertisement and interiors Saudi Arabia, Dubai, managing director of Grey Line Interior and Advertisement (UAE) and director of Readymix Concrete, India.
Dr Shakeel reserves 50% of profits of his business for social work through Dr Abdul Shakeel Charitable trust. During Corona pandemic he felicitated doctors, medical profession helpers and social workers who worked risking their own lives. Dr Shakeel supports youth, who are financially poor, to compete in national and international level sports and other activities. He has encouraged hundreds of children to get educated. He has also adopted several children. Dr Shakeel paid the educational expenses of students of backward community who have scored high marks in examinations and also took complete responsibility of their education. He has built houses for homeless people. Dr Shakeel also rendered financial help to those who get stuck in overseas countries. In addition, he has provided employment to hundreds of people in gulf countries.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Karnataka / by Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS) / August 25th, 2023
It is not rare to find Muslims doing social work silently, unwilling to promote themselves. One such person is Dr. Sarfarazuddin, a homeopath who lives in sector 105, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
He has been feeding 100 deprived people every day for the past five years and teaches students free. He brings ill and unknown covid-dead patients home bathes and buries them, all by himself, and even marries off daughters of destitute families.
Dr. Sarfaraz, as he is popularly known, does good work at various levels. He has been feeding one meal (lunch) to 100 deprived daily for the last five years. He made that arrangement in a school he had opened in 2009 for the underprivileged children in a village nearby called Gejha, with his own money.
The school has 20 rooms on two floors. The students, who have lost either of their parents or are orphans, bright and have more siblings, children of domestic helpers, daily wagers, guards, gardeners, sweepers, etc., study free of charge here.
Others pay a nominal fee. Out of a total of 400 students, most are non-Muslims while some 40 of them are from nearby madrasas. He has recently gathered these students of madrasas of Gejha who had no modern education, to his school, taught them the basics of modern education, computer trained them, and brought them to par with students of 8th standard in his MM School (UP Board) so that they can take board exams and choose competitive subjects later; engineering, medicine to administrative.
Dr.Sarfaraz with his patients
Additionally, he has also started coaching students who want to play volleyball. It keeps them fit and if some of them play well, he says, they would be sent to state and national level competitions.
These children are both from the madrasas and nearby government schools which have no space or free coaches. 100 such students take coaching in different sessions, most of them, non-Muslim. Dr Sarfaraz distributes food to the underprivileged A beneficiary and volleyball coach,20-year-old Vishal swears by the good work Sarfaraz does.
He says, “My father is a daily wager and mother, a domestic help. I needed money to keep my studies and training going. So I offered to coach the students at his school and he readily agreed. Now I coach 100 students who don’t pay any fee, but I get a good payment from Sarfaraz Sir. I have played at the state and national levels. I would be sponsored by him separately if I could play more.”
He also says that Sarfaraz never charges him for medicines he takes for his mother, siblings, and extended family quite often. Sarfaraz also treats the disadvantaged of the area free of cost at his clinic in Gejha on alternate Saturdays and Sundays. He also gives them free medicines. Additionally, he has been regularly holding medical camps for underprivileged patients. During the Covid and lockdown period, he used to get some 200 to 250. The camp had to be stopped “for lack of funds for a few months”. It is difficult to make this man of few words speak about himself. But with an assurance that it might inspire more people, he got ready to share why and how he wishes to give his “entire life for khidmat-e-khalq” (serving people).
“I was always interested in social service as I used to observe my father, principal of a government school in UP, doing social work passionately. So it is integrated into my system. I started serving alongside my father by shifting my clinic from Bhangel to Gejha.”
On how he manages funds, he says, “I do it despite being in deficit. We get things on credit and clear the older dues and take new ones on credit again. Apart from spending from my pocket, I have a small circle of friends who support me on a regular or irregular basis. Some help comes from unknown sources at times.” Of late, apart from his homoeopathy clinic, he has also been running a small medical centre which takes care of some of the expenses for the good work.
Sarfaraz shares why he multiplied his charity work after he saw migrant labourers walking home barefoot, hungry and sick from Noida Expressway during the lockdown. “It was painful to see them. I bought whatever I saw on the road – the entire the of bananas, other fruits, biscuits, called some maulanas from nearby madrasas, and other people and we all stood on the road to feed these labourers day and night for several days. This made me think that I was still not doing enough for the underprivileged.”
Rajesh Yadav, a beneficiary, vouches for the help he has had from Sarfaraz. He says, “I live in sector 45 which is far from here. During the entire covenant lockdown period, my whole family could survive because he used to distribute food twice daily. I have seen him running behind buses and trucks full of labourers etc., to distribute food. He also offered me to make food for his beneficiaries because I am a halwai (sweet maker) by profession. During covid period and lockdown for two years, all the shutters were down, and only my work was sustained all thanks to him. He also never stopped my payment and helped me financially whenever I asked. He never treats me differently because I am a non-Muslim. Now I understand how political leaders divide us,” he gets emotionally charged.
After having felt that he was doing too little during covid, he alternatively kept on helping deprived families marry off their daughters. He even brought home several patients who died in covid when their families had either refused to take their bodies, were far off or they had no one left in the family. He gave them ghusl (bathed) and buried them in a nearby graveyard with his own hands without ever asking for their names, or contact details or expecting anything in return.
Mohammad Shahid, a transporter by profession, vouches for the work he does. He shares, “I shifted to Noida in 2008. Since then I am witnessing Sarfarazbhai working relentlessly for the poor. In my view, the two biggest things he has done are, bringing the dead from several societies nearby to his home (in case they have no one to perform the last rituals), getting them ghusl, and having them buried with respect. He did it during covid and is still doing it. Also, this deserted area had no graveyard for the Muslims. This was a great problem as other graveyards wouldn’t let us bury our dead due to overcrowding.
Coach Vishal with his students
Coach Vishal Yadav with students he coaches in Volleyball Dr sahib fought tooth and nail with a known builder who tried capturing the graveyard land for erecting a skyscraper in consonance with some greedy Muslims of the area and finally was able to retain around 2 acres of the graveyard. Dr Sarfaraz has helped the Muslims in and around Noida Expressway a great deal by building the only graveyard. I am also aware of his other charity work and can vouch for the fact that not even established NGOs with tonnes of money, don’t do the kind of work I have seen him doing.”
Sarfaraz’s family, consisting of a spouse and three children, he says, “often get anxious for it keeps him overtly busy, but they keep on supporting. Knowing this will never change, it is becoming a part of their system too,” he smiles. Agrees his wife Shaheen, however, adding that khidmat e khalq has been a part of her upbringing too.
“My father a school teacher who also has a family business of transport would always make sure that at least 20 deprived people ate at our home every day, at AaliGaon near Badapur Delhi, where we lived. I remember all the humble families used to have tea and breakfast at our home daily. After marriage, I found that Dr.Sarfaraz seemed to have gone a step further. Even while we were all suffering from covid, he used to leave home to help those in need in the wee hours of the morning.
She adds laughing, “the excuse he would give us was, I don’t see you guys offering fajr (morning) prayer. It depresses me so I go to the mosque nearby to offer mine.” Shaheen also adds that their children have imbibed this habit naturally.
Her young daughters, Sana and Saba, textile and product designers respectively, have started keeping 2.5 percent separate as zakat from their little earnings or pocket money. She also recalls a recent incident about her son, 14-year-old Asad, who wanted to eat delicious biryani sold every Friday near Gejha mosque.
“He asked for money but he came back empty-handed and hungry. I asked him why he didn’t eat biryani. He replied, as he started from home, two old women asked for some money. He gave them all and came back. He remained hungry to feed them. So, it runs in the family,” she says with a contented smile. Did anyone say, charity begins at home?
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Rana Siddiqui Zaman / posted by Shaista Fatima / February 17th, 2023
