Rajesh Shetty is president of Bunts Bahrain

Dubai: In response to UAE health authorities encourage blood donation campaign Anivasai Kannadigara Okkuta - U.A.E, conducted blood donation camps on April 22 at Abu Dhabi Blood Bank Khaldiya and on 23/04/2020 at Blood Transfusion and Research Centre, Sharjah.

The Abu Dhabi camp was inaugurated by Head of Department of Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, On this occasion she gave brief inputs of the benefits and features of blood donation, urged the participants to spread greater awareness about the importance of blood donation and congratulated the AKO members for their selfless social service and wished all the best for their future endeavours.

Abdul Rasheed, President of AKO presided over the function and Anivasai Kannadigara Okkuta Vice President Mr. Mohammad Nasir appreciated the effort for organizing this camp and gathering youths to be a part of this noble cause as life is precious on this earth. "Each drop of blood counts much, so kindly take it as personal compassion to help unknown who requires blood with no relatives to help him/her.

In Abu Dhabi 41 and in Sharjah 49 donors participated in this event and donated their blood. It was nice to see cheerful smiling donors doing a great community work.
Blood bank staff and AKO Organizing team enthusiastically arranged the campaign which was witnessed by many members and leaders of various community organization of Karnataka.

Anivasai Kannadigara Okkuta President briefed the participates about the ongoing social work of AKO in this current COVID-19 pandemic grim situation AKO is working on following fields: AKO Members have stepped up to support needy community during the Covid-19 pandemic have gone out of their way to comfort those struggling to deal with the challenging situation.

While thousands of people continue to #StayHome, many are in quarantine, there are those on visit visa and stuck here, others have lost jobs or face salary cuts. AKO in coordination with UAE Embassy and other social organization have been able to ensure basic necessities are fulfilled with food provisions and medical assistance to needy.

Providing counselling to bachelors and families those are on quarantine and isolation.

The organizers thanked everybody especially, UAE Health Authority, Abu Dhabi Blood Bank Khaldiya and Blood Transfusion and Research Centre, Sharjah, Management and staff as well as donors for their time and support for the good cause.

Kuwait: The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the whole world into a difficult situation and the situation of Indians in Kuwait is not any different. Many people have lost their jobs, have no salary, are deprived of food and are not able to pay rent. The appalling conditions of labourers, domestic workers, taxi drivers and low waged earners don’t seem to end in Kuwait. 

At this trying situation when many people were even afraid of leaving their houses because of coronavirus, Suresh S. Rao Neramballi, volunteer of the Food Kit Distribution at the ICSG (Indian Community Support Group) has helped many tremendously. He was ready to go around delivering food kits at any time possible by his car. However, after Kuwait imposed a full curfew from 11th May 2020, no one could take out their vehicles unless they had a curfew pass. 

This did not stop Mr. Suresh Neramballi, who then borrowed a bicycle from a friend and ended up going around in the cycle delivering the food kits in curfew break time (4:30pm to 6:30pm) to all those who registered in the ICSG website. This selfless service surely commands appreciation and applause. Mr. Suresh Neramballi has been a light for many families and bachelors in Kuwait and will surely garner the blessings of them who have been able to eat at this time.

He was also the one who could deliver the food kits to many Indian Muslim maids, bachelors, laborers and families previous day and right on the day of EID, as they were not able to go shopping for their groceries for EID, due to the curfew. They blessed him in EID dua. 

Mr. Suresh Neramballi hails from Mangaluru, India and is an Engineer in the Oil sector company in Kuwait. He has been dedicated to social service, achieved 'Aryabhata International Award' for his Kannada Service and Social service, served in many Associations and Distributor of Kannada and Tulu Movies in Kuwait. He wholeheartedly thanks the people and government of Kuwait for his bread and butter.

Kuwait: Friday Forum Kuwait conducted its 12th inter-school Islamic Elocution Competition at Hotel Rajadhani Palace, Khaitan on 1st January 2020. 

The competition, which was held in the senior and junior categories had participation from 15 Indian Schools across Kuwait comprising of 43 students. In the senior category, Ayisha Wafiya of Indian Community School, Khaitan bagged the first prize and Efrem Joseph of Indian Community School, Amman won the second prize. 

In the junior category, Hima Jameela of Indian Community School, Khaitan bagged the first prize and Fadhel Kandapath of Fahaheel Al Wataniya Indian School won the second prize. Nawaal Yaseen Ebrahim of Indian Community School (SR), Salmiya and Rhruthunanda of Indian Learners Own Academy, Abbasiya won the consolation prizes in senior and junior categories respectively.

This year, the event was fully conducted by the ladies wing of Friday Forum. Dr. Thasneem Amir, Ibtisam Basheer, Toast Masters Ola Rasheed, Fatma Abduhedeid, Shazia Thabassum and Marium Rangat were the judges for the competition in senior and junior categories. The event started with the Qira’at by Saneera Riyas, followed by welcome speech by Dr. Sajna Mohammed. 

The prizes were distributed to winners by Shahina Mansoor, Femitha Faseeh, Dr.Thasneem Amir, Dr. Sajna Mohammed, Zeenath Yacoub, Safna Sayam and Saneera Riyas. The Souvenir for the program - “INSPERIA 2020”- was released during the event by the chief editor Farha Abdul Rahman. The program was compered by Thanveera Noushad and the program convenor Subeana Shabeer conveyed the vote of thanks.