Muslim philanthropists set an example by helping Hindu, Christian families

Mangaluru, Jul 10: Even as the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada continues to be the hotbed of communal tension following a spate of stabbings and murders, a group of Muslims has upheld the humanity by trying to solve the problems of poor Christian and Hindu families. The following five instances show that the communal harmony too exist in the region.

*55 year-old Bhavani Shetty, a resident of Alape in Saripalla road, Mangaluru, has been ill for quite some time now. She lives alone as her husband and only son are no more. Her shack has no toilet or electricity. A team Hidaaya Foundation, a Mangaluru based Muslim philanthropic group, visited her house ensured the construction of a toilet in her house.

*Aithppa, who resides behind Divyajyothi School, Vamanjoor along with other Koragas, is a 44 year-old and is bed-ridden from the last 7 years. He is unmarried and is being taken care of by a family there. The team that visited him has promised to sponsor his medicines.

*Mohini and her mother are leading a very difficult life along with her 4 sisters, in Iruvail’s Kettikal. 3 of them are sick. They are not sure of any future they might have. The team that visited them has promised to provide them with food supplies for 1 year.

*Shivanagara, Moodushedde’s resident Veronica D’silva lives with her husband. They are childless. Their little hut does not have electricity supply. The team that visited them has decided to provide them with electricity.

*Piyad Crasta is a widow who stays in Adarsh Nagar, Vamanjoor. Her 40 year-old son is sick. They live in a hut. The team that visited them promised to supply food to them every month.

In above five cases, three are Hindu families and two families belong to Christian community. The Hidaya Foundation team consisted of the president Mohammed Hanif Haji Goltamajalu, Asif Dilsjubail, Basheer T K Pharangipet, Abdul Razak Anantadi.

Lily Mary of Vamanjoor Dharmajyoti informed the Hidaya Foundation about the situation of these families and joined them. A Christian woman joining hands with a Muslim foundation to help Hindu and Christians has set a whole new example of communal harmony in the coastal district where Communal violence is what everybody has been witnessing lately.

The Hidaya Foundation has been helping people in need irrespective of their caste and religion for the past 6-7 years and has constructed a Hidaya Share and Care Colony in Kaavalakatte. 60 houses have been built in the 5 acre colony for widows and their families. The Foundation has helped the widows to live a life of self-dependence.

The Foundation is also running a school for disabled children. It has helped thousands of sick people. It provides ration every month to about 285 families irrespective of religion. With the help of Muslim philanthropists of Mangaluru residing around the world, the Foundation has been working to win hearts all over Mangaluru.