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IFF Haj volunteers a role model for other countries: Indian CG

[email protected] (Shameer Ahmed Kudroli)
November 29, 2013

IFF_HajJeddah, Nov 29: The services rendered by Haj volunteers from the Indian Fraternity Forum (IFF) has inspired several other countries to arrange their own volunteers to help their pilgrims in the holy sites of Makkah during Haj, said Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai.

The consul general was speaking at a get-together of Haj service volunteers organized by IFF at the Consulate of India premises.

He said that many countries had sought copies of the map of Mina, which was prepared by IFF.

“The selfless and timely services of IFF volunteers during the Haj is praiseworthy. Their service was much valued and have benefited thousands of Guests of Allah not only from India or Asia, but from many other countries. I could always spot IFF volunteers who stood out with their orange jacket in every nook and corner of Mina,” he observed.

IFF President Ashraf Morayur said the task of helping sick pilgrims and elderly women was carried out smoothly by IFF through a team comprising the volunteers from the IFF’s women’s wing — Women’s Fraternity Forum — as many pilgrims from India were above 70 years of age.

“This year, there were 32 women volunteers and 24 students in their team from the total of 1,200. The trip on Haj train service was made more comfortable, thanks to the round-the-clock service of IFF volunteers who helped the pilgrims to utilize the facility,” he said.

“The immense service of the Indian volunteers indeed came as a blessing to thousands of pilgrims. The forum volunteers were very active in round-the-clock services in Makkah, particularly in the Haram premises,” said Mohammed Noor Rahman Sheikh, the Haj consul. He congratulated the forum leadership for being “very active in rendering service in Mina along with their volunteers.”

Mukhtar Al-Kindi, in-charge of the Youth Team of World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY); Muneera Khalid Balahmar, director, Health Education Administration, Ministry of Health; and others also praised the role played by IFF volunteers during the Haj.

Ashraf Morayur, presiding over the function, expressed gratitude to the consul general for his tremendous support and remarkable service to the expatriate Indian community. On behalf of the IFF, Ashraf presented a memento to the consul general.

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Media Release
May 30,2020

Dammam: Indian Social Forum, Dammam, Karnataka chapter organized a "Live along with COVID-19" webinar on 29 May 2020 in association with HealthCare Polyclinic, Dammam.

The webinar at Zoom App. featured over 150+ resident Kannadigas from Saudi Arabia's eastern and neighboring provinces.

Dr. Shailendranath made a presentation on the program and gave useful information. Indian Social Forum Dammam, Karnataka Chapter President Sharif Joktake delivered the keynote address. General Secretary Irshad Jokatte stalled the program.

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Agencies
August 8,2020

Dubai, Aug 7: One may call it good luck, but for two Indian expats it was God who prevented them at the last minute from boarding the Air India Express plane that crashed in Kerala, killing at least 18 people on board.

According to India's Civil Aviation Ministry, the Boeing 737 aircraft on a flight from Dubai to Kozhikode overshot the runway at Kozhikode airport on Friday evening. There were 184 passengers including 10 infants, 2 pilots and four cabin crew onboard the aircraft.

Noufal Moin Vetten, an Ajman resident working as an office boy in a Sharjah school, was booked to travel on the flight and had checked in as per schedule.

Recounting his miraculous escape, Vetten, a resident of Malappuram, Thirunavaya, whose visa was cancelled a week ago, told Gulf News: “I was handed my boarding pass, but when I reached immigration, they told me I had to pay a fine of Dh 1,000 (Rs 20,430) for overstay. I had only Dh 500 (Rs10,215) with me.

"I called my school PRO and he told me to come back. He said they would follow protocols and pay the fines before sending me,“ he said.

Vetten was disappointed and called his family to let them know.

“When I heard about the crash, I was saddened for all the passengers. But I'm so relieved I missed it. God has been really merciful,” said Vetten.

Afsal Parrakodan, a resident of Abu Dhabi, had a similar stroke of luck.

“My work visa was cancelled about a week ago. After getting my boarding pass, I was told I had to pay a fine of Dh1,000 at the immigration counter, but I had only Dh500 on me.”

“I was very keen to board the flight and be with my family. So I called a friend who brought me the additional Dh500, but by then, my baggage had been offloaded and the flight's doors were closed,” said Parrakodan.

“I was feeling very sad and called my mother to tell her I had missed the flight. But a few hours later, when I learnt of the crash, I couldn’t help but feel relieved and thankful to God for saving my life,“ said an overwhelmed Parrakodan who plans to fly back next week. 

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Media Release
July 25,2020

In a humanitarian gesture to help fellow citizens in distress, the first in the series of chartered 
flights arranged by Thumbay Group, UAE and the Bearys Cultural Forum (BCF) Trust, 
Mangalore to repatriate stranded Kannadigas in the UAE took off from Ras Al Khaimah 
International Airport in the wee hours of 21st July 2020. The flight was fully occupied, with 186 passengers, all of them desperate to fly back to India for various reasons.

The initiative was conceived and implemented under the leadership of Dr. Thumbay Moideen - Founder President of Thumbay Group & Founder Patron of BCF and Dr. B K Yusuf, the 
President of BCF. The flight was organized on a purely charitable basis, with all necessary 
steps and precautions in place to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers. Thumbay Group assigned its fleet of buses to transport the passengers free of charge from their residences in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman to the airport. The organizers also provided free meals and refreshments to the passengers, in addition to PPE kits and face-shields distributed free of 
charges.

The passengers on the first flight included many elderly individuals, people with serious 
illnesses like heart-related health issues and diabetes, pregnant ladies and little children as well as people who had lost their jobs and those with expired visas. Dr. B K Yusuf – BCF President, Dr. Kaup Mohammed - BCF General Secretary, other office bearers of BCF, as well as Thumbay Group’s representatives Mr. Farhad C – Director of the Hospitality Division of 
Thumbay Group and Engr. Farwaz P. C. – COO of the Construction Division were present at 
the airport to see off the first group of passengers.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Thumbay Moideen said, “This joint initiative of Thumbay 
Group and BCF is to support our fellow Kannadigas desperate to fly back home. We are happy that we have been able to reach out to many of them, to help them fly home to their families. We thank the Governments of the UAE and India, and the Indian Consulate, Dubai, for their support in making this happen. In the coming days, many more stranded Kannadigas would be repatriated under this joint initiative.”
Dr. B K Yusuf thanked Dr. Thumbay Moideen and the office-bearers and members of BCF for 
their efforts to make the initiative a success.

“We are proud that this initiative has brought relief to many Kannadigas and their families today. BCF is grateful to Thumbay Group for its support and partnership for all our humanitarian programs for the support of the needy.”

Dr. Kaup Mohammed said that it was a matter of pride that the much-awaited Thumbay-BCF 
repatriation flight had been carried out successfully. “Measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the flight and its passengers throughout the journey,” he said. He also thanked all the social organizations including Bhatkal Jamath, BCCI, BWF, KCF, DKSC, Kodagu Kannadigas, 
Kannadiga Help Line, Dubai Konkans and KSS, for their support. He specially thanked Mr. 
Syed Hassan Razeen, the owner of ARISTOCRAT Travels for his support in the ticketing, 
boarding and related processes. On behalf of Milano Optics Group and Maxcare, free gift 
hampers were distributed to selected passengers.

The passengers were received at Mangalore airport under the leadership of Mr. Mumtaz Ali - patron of BCF and other distinguished personalities of Mangalore including Mr. Moidin Bava - former MLA, Mr U. T. Ifthikhar, Mr. S. M. R Rashid - President of BCCI central committee and many others. The passengers were transferred to the hotels where they had registered for the mandatory quarantine.

The second flight under this joint initiative is scheduled to take-off from Ras Al Khaimah airport to Mangalore on 24th July 2020. A few more similar repatriation flights are to soon follow, in the coming weeks.

 

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