Mangaluru, May 25: When a majority of political and social organisations in the city have been blaming the City Corporation for failing to supply water regularly for past few weeks, a small group of people turned Good Samaritans for the helpless families that were hit hard by the water famine.
For the past two weeks, the volunteers of city based Highland Islamic Forum, have been engaged in providing water to the needy families in different parts Mangaluru for free cutting across the lines of religion, caste and creed without any expectation.
The coastal city faced acute shortage of water this month as the Dakshina Kannada district received 21 per cent less rainfall last year. A few days ago, the water level at the Thumbe Vented Dam, the main source of water to the city, had gone down almost to 4 feet against the maximum level of 13 feet.
While houses in some posh areas received water twice a week, some other areas got water only once a week. Houses in some upper-reach areas were completely deprived of water supply for last three weeks. Even though MCC opted to supply water to such areas by tankers, its service was only confined for the roadside houses.
In such situation, the volunteers of HIF made all possible efforts to ensure that their service reaches to the families staying far away from the main roads. They chose most affected areas in the city for their service. For last two weeks they have been supplying water to 150 to 200 houses every day. They fetch water from wells and transport it in three pick-up vehicles using two dozen tanks to the affected area and provide water to the needy for free. They don't even hesitate to climb the stairs to supply water in case senior citizens or patients live in multi-story apartments.
HIF president Nazim SS, who is ready to send his team to any part of the city where people are facing acute water shortage, thanks all the philanthropists who helped his forum to engage in this noble cause. He said that Falnir ward Corporator Abdul Razzak provided pump set to extract water from a deep well at Attavar. “We supply water in three pick-up vehicles carrying several tanks of 2,000 litre capacity every day,” he said, thanking industrialist SM Farooq, AK group and Deccan Plastic for providing the vehicles. He also expresses his thanks to Milagres ward Corporator Abdul Rauf for extending all the support.
HIF itself bears the expense of the fuel consumed by the vehicles besides taking responsibility of the food and other requirements of 10 dedicated volunteers. Mr Nazim and other office bearers of the HIF including Ausaf, Suhail Bolar, Rizwan, Nabeel, Dawood, Saleem Adil Parvez, Mahfooz personally monitor the water supplying mission in spite of their busy schedule.
They have poised to continue this service untill the Corporation starts supplying water regularly. Subhash Nagar in Pandeshwar, Jain Compound in Attavar, Juma Masjid Road in Bolar, Amrit Nagar, Rosario Church Road, Falnir are some of the areas in the city where HIF supplied water regularly for several days.
The beneficiaries, who comprise of the people of different religions, classes and sections of the society, mince no words to praise the noble deed of HIF. “They are Muslims. We are Hindus. But, they provide us water for free every day without any expectation. We are lucky to have such selfless people in our city,” said Chaitra, a teacher who resides at Subhash Nagar.
Chandrakant Nayak, whose family has been residing in the same locality for past 28 years, says that he never experienced such a water scarcity in the past. “We were completely deprived of drinking water. Though we have a namesake well, its water is not fit for drinking or cooking. Corporation's water supply tankers never came this side till now. In this juncture HIF volunteers' selfless service helped us to lead a peaceful life in last few days,” he says.
John D'Souza, whose wife gave birth to a baby a few days ago, says that his entire family is indebted to HIF. “We have a newborn at home and the Corporation has stopped supplying water. We thank God for helping us through these people in our hard times,” he adds.
The author is a freelance contributor who promotes co-existence and communal harmony.
Welcoming the move Dr Arathi Krishna told coastaldigst.com that Indians stranded in any foreign country can utilize this facility. "Initially, I was approached by Mr Zakaria and Mr Sheik who wanted chartered flights to help their employees fly back to India. I asked them to write to the Indian Ambassador in Saudi Araia Mr Ausaf Sayeed. Then I requested the ambassador to forward the request to Joint Secretary Dr Nagendra Prasad, who is in charge of gulf division in the Ministry of External Affairs, and then to Secretary on charge of Gulf and then I requested Secretary of Economic Relations Mr T S Tirumurti who was also in charge of Gulf to follow this up," she said. 
Comments
Viren.....
If the faith is strong...no one can convert any relegion.....
But it should be worth a relegion and people should feel that they are following the real god....not story based books and charecters written by authors and created by artists............ Educated people started thinking dear....May god help you too..
Masha allah HIF May Allah accept it from you
Great work HIF. Keep it up. May Allah bless you guys!
See the communal mentality of Viren Kotian...Huttu guna suttaru bidadu...
great work carry on.
Great work carry on
Nobel QURAN tells us that ALL MANKIND is descended from ONE couple (ADAM & EVE ) Thus we are all bro & sis's and our differences is Languages and colors are but a MERCY that we might know ONE ANOTHER. Language and race should never be a reason for discriminating against people.
A MUSLIM should maintain good relations with HIS RELATIVES, but he should not unjustly FAVOR them over OTHERS. Further, A MUSLIM must be good to HIS NEIGHBORS, no matter their RELIGION. But the PROPHET MUHAMMAD pbuh taught us that a \NEIGHBOR\" is not just the one next door but includes all those up to 40 houses in all directions - effectively whole neighborhood...
If a MUSLIM works for the society with good deeds without showoff or expecting anything from people ... Then ALLAH will reward them... That's the purpose A TRUE MUSLIM will expect from ALLAH alone and not from PEOPLE...
When God promises... Then we should help and doesnt expect anything from people... Success and contentment in life comes when we OBEY the CREATOR alone & follow his messenger's advice.
Great work from HIF...May ALLAH reward YOU guys for helping in times of NEED..."
Works like this is the true charm of Islam. We are being doubted of the intention because totally non existent from the side Of the so called Muslims. HIF kudos to u people. You have restarted good works which belonged to muslims, that was forgotten by them since a long long time ago. May the merciful Allah bless u and shower his mercy on you all.
Great Work HFI. May Allah (SWT) reward you in each and every walks of life. Keep it up doing such work.
May Allah give you all a Paradise for your endless help to the sufferer. Aameen.....
Hey Viren Kotian!
Oara pokkade kullu maraya.. ninna desett yankleg mone thojpaayere avondijji... bele malpunaklaanda malpaad. ee podu cheddi pard badd kovi pathd shastrabhyasa malpu.
Masha Allah...great works....all good deeds with out any expectations in this world will be rewarded ... In Sha Allah
well done HIF, i would loved to join your social work if i would be thr.
Good work HIF and all supporters. You are a role model for other groups.
No words. May Allah keep them happy always.
some cheap mentality people who spent this month in fighting against each other in the name of AP-EK after tight se PK, must learn from HIF
Really good work. god bless them .
indeed a wonderful job. really appreciable. this is why Mangalore is called a city of kind and noble people. unfortunately because of some goons and politicians perhaps the cities imaged is damaged.
No doubt a good work. but is there any hidden agenda behind this service? Pavithra mam, plz try to find out. We have experienced the service of Christian missionaries, whose only aim is conversion of innocent hindus.
God bless you HFI. you did a great job. people of mangaluru should learn from you.
Good write up Pavithra mam. You have brought to light the noble deed of noble people of our city.
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