Face to Face with KKMA Chairman

Sageer Trikarpur is the Chairman of Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association, the largest social welfare organization of Indians in Kuwait.

Over the past three decades of involvement in social service activities, Sageer Trikarpur has emerged as one of the most influential and admired community leader in Kuwait. He has a reputation of achieving extraordinary results from ordinary men. His leadership, vision and perception has swelled the membership of KKMA from six members to 10,000 active members and has contributed significantly in social development and human welfare.

In KKMA, his actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and achieve more.

Coastaldigest.com finds out more from the Chairman of KKMA in view of launching the Model NRI project

1. You are a chairman of a large charitable organization, how did you establish such an organization?

The KKMA is an organization of ordinary NRIs in Kuwait. Since the majority of NRIs in Middle East are ordinary people who find it difficult to meet both ends of their life’s necessities, it is not at all extraordinary to attain a membership of 10,000 people.

We have many organizations working for the welfare of society, but there was a need for an organization which would primarily focus on the welfare of its members. Prior to conceiving this as an association, our team, a handful of well experienced social workers, seriously discussed the purposes of forming a new organization. Hence, vision, mission and objectives of KKMA became more apparent to everyone. As a result, an organization ‘for aid and development’ of its members was formed. Our vision is to create a dynamic and vibrant platform for Non Resident Indians to come together and participate in a wide range of providing aid and engaging in developmental activities.

The Mission of Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA) is to provide aid to and secure development of its members and the community that it represents. KKMA aims to fulfill this Mission by providing educational opportunities, promoting professional and personal growth, and carrying out our social responsibility and enhancing pride within our organization and reinforcing our reputation as a vital Indian organization in Kuwait.

2. The responsibilities of running a big organization must be a huge burden… How do you manage to execute so many welfare plans?

Activities at KKMA are not at all a one-man show. We have an evergreen and structured organization, which we fine tune every now and then to meet the purposes of the Association. The Board of Trustees and the Management Team of KKMA is responsible for setting up long-term strategies and objectives for the Association.

I have learnt that nothing could be achieved in life if there is no dream to begin with. KKMA has many dreams for the welfare of its members and the society at large. Hence, activities are plenty and the members are always willing to execute them.

3. You are aiming to bring together people with low salaries. Is there any specific reason?

Yes. As I mentioned earlier, majority of NRIs in Middle East fall in this category of ‘low income’ group. In our country though, the general perception is that ‘if he is an NRI, he ought to be rich’.

Almost of all social development activities in our homeland are funded by NRIs, may be it political parties, religious organizations, or others. The reality is there are hundreds of thousands of NRIs in gulf who definitely fall under BPL (below poverty line).

NRIs have two specific aims: Save enough to return home, and learn new skills for effective utilization back home. However, they seldom achieve their aims because of lack of planning and opportunities.

Secondly, it is not just a financial aspect that is a cause of concern. Their feelings and emotion are never thought of.

As we know, only communities with a thorough understanding of their own values are communities with development potentials. KKMA as a social organization of NRIs shall help them to know themselves and requirement of aid at the time of need. We shall encourage NRIs to broaden their knowledge and self-realization possibilities, foster their self-confidence and sense of pride, face difficulties and challenges in the process of development, and enable them to be self-reliant.

4. What inspired you to establish the Kidney dialysis centres in various districts of Kerala and Mangalore?

As a charitable organization, we were trying to help all those who requested assistance from the Association. However, even after spending a lot of money, it was too difficult to measure the impact of that charity due to lack of clarity and specific aim. So, we thought of streamlining our relief activities to concentrate on one issue that could make a significant change in society.

Initiative to establish Kidney Dialysis Centres in all districts of Kerala and Mangalore was made by the Association in view of the expensive dialysis treatment not commonly affordable to lower income folks.

The first of its kind center was opened at IQRAA International Hospital and Research Center in the city of Calicut in June 2006. In following years KKMA, in association with regional hospitals, has opened five more low cost kidney centers in Trichur, Malappuram, Kasaragod, Trivandrum districts of Kerala and one in Mangalore, Karnataka State.

Each Centre is equipped with units of state of the art haemodialysis machines, provides dialysis treatment at affordable prices, and when possible free of charge as well.

5. One of your schemes FBS is largely supporting your member family? Can you please elaborate more on this scheme and its benefits?

Family Benefits Scheme (FBS) is our signature benefit program for our members. This is a kind of social security scheme to help the family of member in the event of his unfortunate demise. The Scheme is implemented by collecting a small amount of as low as 0.450 fils from each member and the entire amount is then handed over to the dependants of the deceased member. The FBS has been made mandatory for ensuring successful implementation and the program to sustain. So far, KKMA has implemented 39 such schemes and raised nearly Rs. 1.75 Crore for the benefit of those families.

The impact of this project has been very high. We have recently conducted a study to know the current status of those beneficiary families of the Family Benefit Scheme. The study reveals that all of them would have been suffering without such a helping hand from their fellow brothers go on with their lives.

6. What is Mathruka Pravasi Padhathi or Model NRI? What made you to launch the project ?

Mathruka Pravasi Padhathi, or Model NRI project is a very innovative project. A comfortable home, a healthy family, educated children and a respected life! That is what an NRI aspires for in his life. However, after years of struggle, the Pravasi departs with an empty hand and unfulfilled dreams either back to his home or to the graveyard!

“A Happy Life for My Family” is the major objective of Non Resident Indians who have crossed the seas to Gulf countries. NRIs sacrifice even bare necessities to save the maximum possible from their meager earnings to look after their dependents. However, at a particular juncture of his life when he plans to return to his country, he realizes that what he had earned so far was so little.

Every NRI, after ten or twenty years of his expatriate life, comes back to his country only after ensuring that someone from his family, either a son or his son in law, takes up his legacy as an NRI. The story goes on and replicates itself continually.

Thousands of NRIs will have to struggle for a one-time dinner, if they have to leave their job and the Gulf. This, we have witnessed during the invasion of Iraq on Kuwait.

A major portion of earnings of NRIs is remitted to their dependents, leaving very little for their own future. He has contributed to all those who have sought his assistance, may be for marriage, medical treatment, party fund, construction of mosques, madrasas, schools, orphanages – all good deeds. Studies indicate that Non-Resident Indians struggle hard to earn while their dependents at home are spending without knowing the reality of their hardships abroad. NRIs never inform their actual situation to their dependents while they even sacrifice minimum necessities. In addition, sometimes, when they come back, they do not even get to experience love from their dear ones.

To be honest, a good aspect of the NRI migration to the Gulf is that the life style of his family and dependents improves drastically as a result. Nevertheless, it becomes a nightmare for him, while returning home, as these individuals find it difficult to maintain the lifestyle, they have got used to, resulting in loss of status and self-respect.

The story is not different for NRIs who are living in Gulf with their family and earn a good salary. They too struggle due to unpaid debts, visa card settlement, installments, family and society commitments and entertainment expenditure.

The peculiar circumstances experienced by expatriate families have not been given a serious thought from a humane angle. KKMA realizes that the change should begin within us. The Model NRI project presented by KKMA is a humble initiative in this direction. It is an effort to create awareness about the situation of NRIs and to address their problem in real earnest.

The Center for Information Guidance India (CIGI), an umbrella of scholars & social workers with the experience and expertise to train multi-level community groups is our partner and guide in this project.

Ever since it has been launched, MPP is getting tremendous support and encouragement from the NRI community as well as people leaders. Upon our request, Shri Oommen Chandy, honorable opposition leader of Kerala has consented to be an Executive Patron of this unique project, which in his opinion shall bring immense benefit to all the stakeholders. We have also invited support and patronage of distinguished personalities and social leaders in Middle East and in India to guide us further in this initiative and hopefully they all will support us.

7. How will the Model NRI project help the NRIs and their families?

The Model NRI project presented by KKMA is a humble initiative to create awareness about the situation of NRIs and to address their problem in real earnest.

The project aims to make a positive impact on the lives of KKMA members, particularly in the field of education, health and economy and to guide them to reach the objective of “A Happy Life for His Family”.

KKMA shall organize family meetings, awareness campaigns, debates and coaching classes all over Kerala and DK with the attendance of the entire KKMA family members with the expert assistance from CIGI. We are sure that by these efforts we shall create a positive attitude to promote individual and societal confidence among NRIs. KKMA will organize workshops and classes to change the attitude and motivate them to achieve their goals in life.

The inaugural phase of this campaign to mobilize public opinion has already started with the road show launched in Kerala in the month of February. A large number of NRI family members attended in each of these family meets held at Kanhangad, Kannur, Calicut and Malappuram.

Our DK Family event is planned for May 11, 2010. This series will continue in other districts of Kerala in coming months.
In Kuwait, we launched this program in April in which a large number of people participated. Separate events for families, bachelors, and students were conducted to raise the awareness on need of a change in lifestyle of NRIs and their families. We also have conducted a leaders’ meet to solicit opinions and improvement suggestions from prominent personalities of the community.

In the following phases of the project, KKMA shall come up with awareness and training sessions as well as capacity development programs. The project will include Remote Parenting Training, Saving and Family Budget Training, Educational Motivation and Career Guidance Camp, Health Awareness Seminar, Skill Development and women empowerment training, etc.

8. What should the women’s role in social sector be?

Most NRIs, while they struggle in gulf countries for their dependants, put their women into a situation where they have to care for themselves and their children. This separation from husband not only changes relationship in the family but also directly affects the role of the woman: she becomes "the head of family", in charge of taking care of the rest of the family members.

This situation could be utilized positively. Our women have "untapped potential" to become a voice of moderation in communities. Moderation is the key word, if we adopt this in everything what we do, that will help us in a long way.

Women can have a unique moral authority on the heart of families as sisters, mothers and friends and must be supported to play a greater role in developing and upbringing our future generation. Improving women’s educational and job prospects will boost their confidence as they have a huge role to play in helping us build a stronger, better society.

9. How can one involve himself in social service?

I am no one to give you an advice. Social Service is everyone’s job. In today’s world each one of us are connected with others in one or the other way. So one should see matters affecting fellow brothers and try to resolve it for him in whatever ways possible.

My view is that if you have potential to help others you are blessed by your Creator and you, therefore have a moral responsibility to express your gratitude by utilizing your capability.

For us, social work does not end in speeches, functions, felicitations, receptions, memorandums, etc. KKMA is a step towards a paradigm shift. It is an organization to bring like-minded people together with a motto of help and aid to low income group of NRIs.

We have all worked together to bring about extraordinary change. KKMA’s social change projects are thus born. We have made a difference to the lives of hundreds of people who are now in Kuwait. They became entrepreneurs by a model investment scheme. This same group, who themselves are to be considered BPL, created history by establishing a number of charitable kidney dialysis centers in Kerala, costing several crores of rupees. The same group, helped families of their fellow members when destiny took their lives and left their families without any support. With their half a KD contribution they generated a decent amount for giving a decent life by providing them family benefit scheme. It is the group which has now taken an initiative to bring about a paradigm shift in NRI lifestyle by increasing self-awareness and self-development.

We are all potential change agents, but most of us are trapped by the belief that we as individuals cannot make a difference. I believe it is possible for ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things. As I read somewhere, the difference between an "ordinary" and an "extraordinary" person is not the title that person might have, but what they do to make the world a better place for us all.

See this story of Muhammad Yunus - a Bangladeshi economist. He along with Grameen Bank, won the Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering use of tiny, seemingly insignificant loans — micro credit — to lift millions out of poverty.

See the example of SEWA, the Self Employed Women's Association in India. It is an organisation of poor, self-employed women workers. These are women who earn a living through their own labour or small businesses. Ela Bhatt, or Ela Behn, as she is fondly known, founded SEWA in 1971 which is south Asia’s first labour and trade union for women workers in the informal sector. It is a group of ordinary women, who were inspired by Gandhian thinking and realised the gravity of the situation and supported her venture. SEWA provides healthcare, microfinance, vocational training centres, a bank and an academy to its 10 lakh members.

I believe a group of people with clear vision can create history. The only thing that changes this world is taking action. I believe that if enough ordinary people back up a desire for a better world, they can accomplish extraordinary things.