300 KCF volunteers ready to serve Haj pilgrims from Karnataka in Saudi

Mangaluru, Jul 23: The Karnataka Cultural Foundation has prepared a team of 300 volunteers to serve the Haj pilgrims from Karnataka in Saudi Arabia this year. The KCF have been involved in the task ever since the foundation was formed for the purpose four years ago.

Addressing media on Saturday, D P Yusuf Sakhafi Bythar, Saudi national committee president of KCF, said: “The volunteers are natives of different parts of Karnataka, including Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Hassan, and non-resident Kannadigas. They will help pilgrims with the logistic support and accommodation, since identifying and reaching their respective camps at Madeena, before travelling to Makkah, is a gruelling task.”

Bythar also said that the volunteers from the foundation are well-prepared to handle the situation, with their ability to communicate in multiple languages like Kannada and Malayalam.

Recognising the activities of the foundation, the Health Department at Saudi Arabia has also honoured the volunteers with certificates of appreciation.

Bythar said, apart from helping Haj pilgrims, the foundation is involved in facilitating the smooth return of non-resident Indians in the gulf countries, by opening outpost counters.

“The government of Saudi Arabia had recently announced an amnesty period of three months, allowing non-working Indians to return to their motherland. However, it is not so easy, but for the documents to be submitted to fulfil the procedures. The foundation is helping with preparing the documents to ensure speedy return of the NRIs. As many as 300 people are helped with documents till now,” he explained.