Category Archives: Amazing Feats

Volunteers go beyond religion to carry out COVID-19 relief work

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, FREE : Food, FREE : Healthcare / Assistance, Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , , , , , , , ,

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Citizens stand in a queue as they wait to receive a dose of COVID-19 vaccine, at ESIS Hospital in Navi Mumbai, on May 13, 2021. | Photo Credit: PTI

‘We have been providing free services with the aim of keeping humanitarian spirit alive,’ they say

Pune district has been the worst-hit in not only the State but also the country during the first and second waves of COVID-19. The district currently has nearly 95,000 active cases and is reporting nearly 15,000 deaths since March last year.

As the virus continues to wreak havoc and instil fear, there have been several cases in which relatives have refused to perform funerals of their kin or even help take the body to the ambulance.

In such cases, city-based activist Anjum Inamdar and his outfit, Mulnivasi Muslim Manch, have been performing yeoman service to ensure that these ‘orphaned’ bodies receive a proper funeral. Since last year, the Manch has performed the last rites of more than 1,300 COVID-19 victims, cutting across castes and communities.

With material support from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which has supported the group by supplying Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits, Mr. Inamdar and his 18-member team have transcended communal barriers with their exemplary service.

“As the deaths started mounting in Pune in late March-early April, our outfit was one of the first to respond to the then PMC Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad’s call to NGOs to come forward and aid authorities in relief work… In many cases, funerals could not be performed as entire families had tested positive. It is in such cases that our outfit helped perform the last rites as per the tradition of a particular caste or community…We have even helped in the funeral of non-Covid victims,” Mr. Inamdar said.

Mulnivasi Muslim Manch founder Anjum Inamdar (centre, in PPE kit) helping with last rites of a Christian person in Pune.

Manch acitivists have performed the last rites of Hindus – be they Brahmins, Lingayats, Telugus – as well as Sikhs, Christians and members of other communities as per their respective customs, much to the satisfaction of the relatives of the deceased.

“Our activists have fanned out across the State, working in Lonavla, Shirur, Jejuri, Lonand, as well as Satara, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Raigad and other districts in the Marathwada region. We have also helped with the final rites of constables, health workers, doctors, journalists and notables like Maharashtra hockey player William D’Souza,” Mr. Inamdar said.

Their volunteers also facilitate online training of workers from different social outfits engaged in relief works across the State.

“We have been providing free services with the aim of keeping the humanitarian spirit alive and ensuring dignity even in death,” says Mr. Inamdar.

Helping hand

The Sikh community has time and again proved itself when it comes to opening up their hearts and purses for relief work. The Supreme Council Navi Mumbai Gurudwaras (SCNMG) is an umbrella organisation governing nine gurdwaras. Many of these gurdwaras are providing free rations and cooking gas to the needy, by collaborating with different trusts as well as using donations from individuals.

“We provide cooking gas and rations for a week or two from our gurdwaras in Panvel, Kharghar, CBD-Belapur, Nerul, and Airoli. Whoever needs rations can go there and they get what they need,” said Mehar Singh Randhawa, general secretary of the SCNMG. Last year too, these gurdwaras had ensured delivery of rations to the needy.

“This is public money and going back to the public. Our job is to deliver to the needy without discrimination,” he said. The SCNMG also provides cooking gas cylinder to the Covid-affected.

“Come with the Covid report and Aadhaar card. While a small cylinder is for free, we take a deposit for a big cylinder. The money is refunded when the cylinder is returned,” he said. When asked how many people have benefited, Mr. Randhawa modestly said the job was not for the purpose of keeping count and no record has been maintained.

Relief in kind

Not all relief work is about offering food, though. Anjumane Shiateali, an organisation that manages matters of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Mumbai, is providing service of a different kind. It has recently set up a Covid war room in Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazar area as part of its Project Rise initiative.

Taizun Bearingwala, a volunteer/coordinator at the war room, said they offer medical counselling, consoling and guide people to appropriate medical service. “We get calls from different parts of the country. We also have over 60 doctors who offer consultations,” he said. The war room has designed a medical form which is filled after talking to the caller.

The Anjumane Shiateali has been serving food to migrants workers and has undertaken other relief efforts under Project Rise initiative since the last 12 months.

Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Sheikh said that the Project Rise work is commendable. “The callers get advise on whether they need oxygen or ICU bed or home quarantine,” he said, adding that earlier the calls were from patients, but now the number of those seeking guidance on vaccination has seen an increase.

Not just in Mumbai, Project Rise has a presence in other cities of Maharashtra and the country.

They have converted a community school in Indore into a Covid care centre providing hospital beds, oxygen cylinders and day care. So far, over 500 patients have received treatment.

With the help of local authorities and agencies, Project Rise volunteers are supplying extra beds, medicine, oxygen supply in all six Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) and one Covid care centre in economically backward areas of Karjat. They are also providing protective gear such as masks, gloves, PPE kits and sanitisers for all medical staff and frontline workers. This is for a combined population of over 2.5 lakh people.

Their volunteers in Coimbatore and Chennai have been serving cooked meals to patients’ families, slum dwellers, at orphanage and old age homes since the last 51 weeks.

Financial and medical support is also being provided in Nagpur and Nashik in Maharashtra and small towns like Taloda and Mahuva in Gujarat, and Thandla in Madhya Pradesh. Villages in Mokhada, Maharashtra, are being supplied with daily water tankers, covering a population of over 1,650 people

“As part of the initiative, Project Rise volunteers across different parts of the country are mobilising a range of facilities from healthcare and oxygen cylinders to serving food, water and dry rations to vulnerable sections of society,” said Ammar Tyebkhan, member, Project Rise.

Space for vaccination

St Michael’s Church at Mahim, on the other hand, offered much needed space for vaccination. “There is palpable panic among people since the second wave struck. We can help people, but there is a need to instil confidence. This confidence will come only through vaccination,” said Father Lancy Pinto.

“As we realised the need for vaccination, we offered three options to our ward officer along with the local corporator. We offered the church’s premises till November this year to set up vaccination centre. It has a capacity to vaccinate 1,200 people a day,” he added.

Father Pinto said the church offered space knowing that vaccination would be a long process and would not get over in one or two months. “Therefore, we chose a spot which will not disrupt the activities of the church and the school,” he said.

Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Trust, on the other hand, extended monetary help to the State government to fight the pandemic and also to provide aid.

“We have donated ₹5 crore to the Chief Minister’s Covid relief fund. In addition, we also donated ₹5 crore towards the Shiv bhojan scheme of the State government where free meals are given to the needy,” said Aadesh Bandekar, president of the trust.

He said further relief measures would be be announced after a meeting of office-bearers of the trust.

Recognising another gap, Lalbaugcha Raja, one of the most popular public Ganesh mandals in Mumbai, has been running its dialysis centre throughout the Covid period.

Balasaheb Kamble, president, Lalbaugcha Raja, said, “We ensured that the centre continues to run throughout the pandemic. While medical services are busy and loaded with work treating COVID patients, those requiring dialysis can come here.”

It has also held blood donation camps where over 15,000 bottles of blood were collected. “We also gave a call for plasma donation, through which we helped around 245 patients,” he said.

(With inputs from Shoumojit Banerjee, Alok Deshpande and Lalatendu Mishra)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Other States / by Mumbai Bureau / Mumbai – May 13th, 2021

Muslim doctors, youngsters come to the aid of needy across Karnataka

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, FREE : Healthcare / Assistance, Karnataka (under research project), Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , , , , , ,

KARNATAKA :

‘Doctors for Humanity’ is the medical wing of the Jamaat-e- Islami Hind to keep young Muslims engaged in social service 

Hubballi :

‘Doctors for Humanity’ started out with around 50 doctors. These doctors were assisted in their efforts by around 600 volunteers from ‘Humanitarian Relief Society’.


Most of the doctors and volunteers were from the Muslim community.

It was an initiative aimed at providing round-the-clock aid to Covid-19 patients and their families across the state — while doctors who are part of the initiative have been tending to patients struggling to receiving treatment, volunteers equipped with skills to deal with both natural and man-made disasters, lent invaluable support to the members of patients’ families, right up till helping them with the final rites.

Impressed with their selfless service, doctors and volunteers, from other communities, have flocked to join the group, and offering their services for those in this hour of crisis.


‘Doctors for Humanity’ is the medical wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind to keep young Muslims engaged in social service.

Director Humanitarian Relief Society KM Ashraf said that the volunteers had thus far reached out to more than 1.86 lakh people , cutting across lines of caste and creed.

“They have provided ration kits, food and lending even financial support to the tune of Rs 5.3 crore when the lockdown was enforced last year. We revived the Covid-19 helpline in mid-April this year, and the doctors have been seeing around 100 cases a day. We have distributed food packets around 5,000 people, and performed the last rites of 84,” Ashraf told TOI.


Coordinator of Doctors for Humanity Dr Asifa Nisar said that the outfit counted professionals based out of Bengaluru, Ballari, Kalaburagi , Vijayapura and other districts.

“Many of them are engaged in counselling those calling for help. At least ten doctors are available round-the-clock. We are approached by at least 100 patients, on average, daily. Doctors and volunteers have dedicated numbers. Our volunteers have helped 393 patients get oxygen, and arranged beds for 132 more,” said Dr Asifa, adding that she had data only up till the end of April.


She pointed out that the Humanitarian Relief Society had been instituted to come to the aid of society in times of calamity – natural and man-made.


“All our volunteers are trained to handle emergencies. Since March last year, however, we have dedicated all our resources to the fight against Covid-19. We have been strictly following the government-issued guidelines. I am very pleased that members from other communities are also joining us in various districts,” Dr Asifa added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News > Hubballi News / by Sangamesh Menasinakai, TNN / May 09th, 2021

Dr. Salaam Musheer: An Institution-Builder And Beacon Of Light For Scores Of Social Workers

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Fatalities, Education, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, , , , , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Dr. Salaam Musheer, noted social worker and former professor of the Bishop Cotton Women’s College in Bengaluru died Monday morning (May 3, 2021) after a short tenure in a hospital. He died of Covid. He was 68. He leaves behind his wife, two sons and a daughter.

An institution builder, Dr. Musheer set up ‘Buzurgon Ka Ghar’ (Home for the Aged) and ‘Apna Ghar’ (a home for the children) in Kolar almost thirty years ago. He also set up Millat group of institutions in Kolar which comprise a High School, a PU college and a Degree college. He founded “Ashiyana: The Home for Children”, in Lakshmi Layout on Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru nearly 25 years ago. It is a facility patterned after SoS village where four to five kids are assigned to a female caretaker. The building of the Ashiyana Home was dedicated in the name of Janab Ibrahim Khalilullah Khan, a leading light of the Al-Ameen Educational Society. He also set up Muskan, a school meant to take care of children with special needs. It is located in Saraipalya, behind the Manyata Techpark in Bengaluru. He started a similar school (also named ‘Muskan’) in Kolkata nearly decade ago on the invitation of a philanthropist who dedicated four apartments for the purpose.

Musheer sahab hailed from Kolar, a town 70 kms east of Bengaluru. He did his B.Com from the Govt First Grade College in the small town and later added a post-graduate degree from Mysore University. He taught at the Al-Ameen Degree College for three years and later shifted to Bishop Cottons Women’s College which came up in the mid-1980s. He headed the Dept of Commerce for several years and retired from the College. He was later offered the Principal’s position at the Quwathul Islam Degree College which he served for nearly three years. During his tenure as a lecturer, he even earned a doctorate in Management Studies from the Annamalai University.

A man never to sit quiet, Dr. Musheer was deeply inspired by Christian missionaries and their social service organizations. He twice convened the All India Social Workers’ Conference. The first of these was held at the Al-Ameen Residential School in Hosakote while the second was held at Kolkata. During his college days, he conceived the idea of an Islami Baitulmal in Kolar and set up an institution that extended financial assistance to scores of deserving students. He was widely respected for his mentorship and took special care of Muslim girls in institutions where he served and guided them in studies, social etiquette, and careers.

A man alive to the contemporary needs of the society and ever in quest of modern methods of redressal, Dr. Musheer never shied of copying or emulating mores, manners, and institutional set-ups that appealed to him for their efficacy, humaneness, and transparency. ‘Buzurgon ka Ghar’ was a pioneering effort in that the Muslim community was not mentally prepared to have a dedicated facility for assisted living for the aged in those days. His efforts in this direction were initially criticized but later inspired several other social workers to set up such facilities in Bengaluru and elsewhere.

Only a day before dawn of the holy month of Ramazan, he convened a meeting of trustees of the Muskan where plans were chalked out to use the part of the facility (it has a space exceeding 12,000 sq. ft) for setting up a coaching centre for various competitive exams for Govt jobs. A month before that he drove us to Kolar where he had organized Abdur Raheem Memorial Lecture in order to commemorate the services of Kolar-based philanthropist and builder Janab Abdur Raheem, whose unstinted support enabled Musheer sahab in realizing several of his dream projects.

This writer had the privilege of travelling with him to Kolkata once and Berhampore and Murshidabad on another occasion where he held workshop to guide several social workers and institution builders in West Bengal.

A man with positive outlook and profound believer in action, Dr. Musheer would take upon himself the task of translating ideas into institutions if he determined that there was no other way of achieving the objective.

His death is a grievous loss for the community which is so deficient of role models. May his soul rest in peace! Ameen!

He was laid to rest the same afternoon in Kuddus Saheb Burial Ground in Jayamahal by mourners who gathered at a short notice.

source: http://www.thecognate.com / The Cognate / Home> Obituary / by M A Siraj / May 04th, 2021

CPM candidate-Kolkata doctor, who conducts dialysis for Rs 50, is a 7-time plasma donor

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Leaders, Science & Technology, Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , , ,

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

Fuad Halim, doctor & son of ex-Bengal Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim, had drawn attention last year for providing dialysis services to the poor during last year’s Covid lockdown.

Doctor and CPM candidate Fuad Halim has donated plasma seven times in the past seven months, since recovering from Covid in August last year | Twitter | @fuadhalim

Kolkata: 

A year ago, Dr Fuad Halim gained recognition and got appreciation for providing dialysis services to patients dependent upon it, at a time when the nation-wide Covid lockdown was making access to healthcare difficult for non-Covid patients.

He charges just Rs 50 for the procedure that usually costs anything between Rs 1,200 and Rs 2,000 at most hospitals. His patients, both Covid-positive and non-Covid, are mostly from the economically weaker sections of society.

The ‘Communist doctor’, who is a politician too and is also contesting the ongoing West Bengal assembly polls, is continuing the dialysis services at his small clinic near Park Street in south Kolkata.

In the last seven months, however, Halim has also helped Covid patients in a different way — by donating plasma multiple times.

Speaking to ThePrint, Halim said he had tested positive for Covid in July last year, and spent two weeks in a hospital ICU, battling for life. Having fully recovered in August, he donated plasma for the first time in September, said the doctor.

Plasma is a component of the human blood that carries antibodies, and it is believed that plasma therapy can be effective in Covid treatment if it is used after checking for neutralising antibodies. Plasma can be donated  within a gap of 15 days, and the donor can start giving plasma a month after recovering from Covid.

In the last seven months, Halim, 50, claims to have donated plasma seven times.

He is yet to get vaccinated against Covid — anyone who receives the dose cannot donate plasma for 28 days from the date of vaccination.

Son of late Hashim Abdul Halim, who had been Bengal’s longest serving legislative assembly Speaker, Fuad Halim is contesting the Bengal assembly polls as a candidate of the Sanjukta Morcha, an alliance of Congress, CPI(M) and new entrant Indian Secular Front, from south Kolkata’s Ballygunge constituency.

Halim wasn’t, however, seen holding big rallies. His campaign was more focussed on creating Covid awareness. The doctor-turned-politician claimed that his party opted for smaller rallies and concentrated on virtual campaigns.

‘Will continue donating plasma as long as health parameters permit’

“There are two aspects to my life — one of a politician and the other of a doctor. But there is an underlying similarity that bind the two. I became a politician to serve people and as a doctor I am medically trained to do certain specialised things for people. I will continue donating (Plasma) as long as my health parameters permit,” Halim told ThePrint.

According to Halim, an individual can donate plasma if the count of antibodies in the body match a certain level and his other medical parameters are complementary. “My antibody count is very high as of now. And I am still eligible for donation. I donated recently on Friday. I will need another 14 days to donate again, if my health parameters allow me to,” said the doctor-politician who donates his plasma at the Calcutta Medical College.

Plasma can be preserved for at least a year under ideal conditions and a packet of 500 ml plasma can save even two to three lives, he added.

Prasun Bhattacharya, head of Calcutta Medical College, said: “Dr Fuad Halim has donated plasma seven times, which is very rare and unique. Anybody with a high antibody count can donate plasma, but seven times is a very big number. He had very high number of antibody count, that is why we took his plasma. He has saved many lives.”

Dr Indranil Biswas, former medical superintendent and vice-principal of Calcutta Medical College, said, “It is difficult for anyone to donate plasma seven times. It depends on the immunoglobulin (antibody) a person has.”

Halim said he will go in for vaccination only when he is no longer able to donate plasma. “A second Covid wave has hit the country. People who were infected on and after 1 March, will only be eligible to donate from May. That is the protocol. Meanwhile, the need for plasma donors has skyrocketed. If I can save some lives, I will be happy to continue donating,” he added.

With a surge in Covid infections, his three-member team of doctors at his dialysis unit now first screen the patients for Covid. If anyone tests positive, they are admitted to MR Bangur Hospital, a government Covid-treatment facility. After two weeks of the detection of infection, his team starts with the patient’s dialysis.

Halim had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Diamond Harbour on a CPI(M) ticket. He finished a distant third with less than 1 lakh votes, while the winner, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, got nearly 8 lakh votes.

(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)

source: http://www.theprint.in / The Print / Home> India / by Madhuparna Das / April 28th, 2021

Meet Tabassum Ali, a single woman from Bihar riding a Bullet, piloting social work

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , , , , ,

Patna, BIHAR :

Tabassum Ali with a CRPF team in Patna, Bihar

Forty-one-year old Tabassum Ali from Patna, Bihar is a single woman riding a Bullet motorcycle and works tirelessly for promotion of the rights of women in the state and country.

Patna:

On the morning of April 13, forty-one-year old social worker Tabassum Ali met with National Cadet Corps’s (NCC) group commander Brigadier Vinesh Rana at Patna, Bihar. Soon after, she had a meeting with Manish Mahiwal, a budding YouTuber, to discuss a play on the liberation of Bangladesh. Afterwards, she rushed to attend a civil society meeting to save India’s iconic Khuda Bakhsh Library in Patna from demolition. After the meeting, she came to meet a woman to discuss her legal case. 

While attending to this busy schedule, she missed a meeting at Biharsharif, some eighty kilometres south of Bihar’s capital Patna to discuss the location issue of the minority girls’ hostel. 

This is how a normal day goes for Tabassum Ali, one of the most visible faces in Patna.

Tabassum is single with no children. Her family include social workers and people she helps with her social work. She rides a 450 cc Bullet motorbike, with all the gears a bike racer would have – helmet, gloves, and boots etc. 

She wanted to be a commercial pilot and still nurtures that dream. 

During her interview with TwoCircles.net, Tabassum’s phone kept ringing. She was getting calls from CRPF asking her for some sort of support and calls for donating plasma for a Covid-19 patient. 

A few weeks ago, she attended a meeting of the Bihar Rabita Committee, an NGO working for the educational progress of the Muslim community in Patna. When its Secretary announced that Tabassum loves to ride her Bullet, every head moved towards her. But this doesn’t deter her. 

Social work and adventure are Tabassum’s two passions. Her love for social work started in New Delhi where she came to know about a minor rape victim who was being treated at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. She recalls, “Ignorant of her trauma, the girl always smiled after meeting me. This made me weep and I resolved to work for such girls.” 

Her NGO ‘Make a New Life’ works for rape survivors.

Among many cases she has fought, one was a legal case for a newly-wed Muslim girl of Fatuha in Patna district. The girl was sent back to her home by her husband for no valid reason after only six days of marriage. It had come to fore that the girl’s husband was already married and his previous wife was alive. He had lied to the girl’s family that his wife was dead. The girl was divorced after a few months. Tabassum fought the case from Mahila Thana (police station meant for women) to the court. The girl’s Khala (mother’s sister) was known to Tabassum. This got Tabassum involved in the case and she succeeded in getting a compensation of Rs 9 lakhs for the victim. 

Tabassum talks about another case of an 8th standard girl who was raped but the “police were not registering a case against the accused.” It was only after Tabassum intervened that an FIR was registered and the accused was arrested. 

Tabassum’s ride on her Bullet for doing social work may seem smooth but she says the journey of her life has been bumpy. 

Born to a Muslim father and an Anglo-Indian mother in a remote town of Jhaha in Bihar, she studied in a Railway school till class 6. She was moved to a girl’s school after much persuasion to study till matriculation. 

“Unfortunately, I could not write the exams as the examination centre was away. Next time, I failed in one subject,” she said. 

Tabassum was finally able to pass the matriculation exams on her third attempt. 

To qualify for a commercial pilot course, she studied mathematics in her Intermediate and passed the examination of I.Sc but somehow could not qualify for the pilot course. 

Meanwhile, she got married. Her attempt to start a new life in the national capital New Delhi with her husband was short-lived. She soon separated from her husband. 

Being a single woman now, she worked as HR help and gave tuitions. Finally, she decided to move to Patna and reunited with her family with the help of some relatives. 

“I love adventure,” she said. 

She has travelled to 29 Indian states on a bicycle, covering nearly 12800 kilometres in 173 days, to create rights awareness among women. For two years, she has worked as a volunteer in AIIMS, New Delhi at its cancer centre for children. 

Satyanarayan Madan, a well-known social worker from Patna describes Tabassum as “one of the most fearless and dedicated social workers of Bihar.” 

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Lead Story / by Sami Ahmad, TwoCircles.net / April 30th, 2021

Kochi businessman gives away 15 tempos for Covid fight, turns them into ambulances

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Transport, Travel & Tourism, Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , ,

Thrikkakara (Palakkad) / Kochi, KERALA :

“I wondered if there is something I can do. My vehicles have been lying in the garage for months now, why not use them, I thought,” said Najeeb.

Najeeb in front of his tempo traveller that was recently converted into a Covid care ambulance by attaching first-aid kits and stretchers

Kochi : 

At a time when the state is grappling with the second wave of Covid, a Kochiite who owns a fleet of tempo travellers has decided to convert his vehicles into Covid-care ambulances, given the shortage of facilities in the district.

Recently, Najeeb Vellakal who hails from Thrikkakara himself faced a crisis when he couldn’t get a vehicle to drop his Covid positive staff to his hometown in Palakkad.  He converted one of his 20 tempo travellers under Zainul Travels into a Covid ambulance to drop his staff. “I removed all the seats except the long one in the back.

I bought a PPE kit for the driver and separated the driver’s cabin using a plastic sheet and dropped the Covid positive person in Palakkad,” said Najeeb, who has been in the vehicle  rental business for over 20 years. The incident, however, left him pondering over the struggles of common people during the pandemic. “I wondered if there is something I can do. My vehicles have been lying in the garage for months now, why not use them, I thought,” said Najeeb.

“It costs around Rs 10,000 to convert a traveller into an ambulance by adding stretchers, fixing oxygen cylinders and first aid kits,” he added. On a trial basis, the Ernakulam mayor suggested converting one vehicle into a Covid ambulance. 

“I am willing to convert the rest of my 15 vehicles into Covid ambulances if they agree,” Najeeb said. He also said that the ambulance will only charge an affordable rent from people, enough to pay the driver and get fuel.  The 43-year-old  has been working at Kakkanad Infopark arranging transportation for its employees. His business has been dull since work-from-home became the new norm.

You may contact Najeeb on 7907034416

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Aishwarya Prabhakaran, Express News Service / April 28th, 2021

Dr Shafeeque Ahmed Ansari – Mentor of Budding Scientists laid to rest in Malegaon

Amazing Feats, COVID 19 - Fatalities, Education, Leaders, Science & Technology, , , , , , ,

Malegaon (Nashik District), MAHARASHTRA / NEW DELHI :

Dr Shafeeque Ahmed Ansari of Jamia Millia Islamia

Dr Shafeeq Ansari had died while working for Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi at around 12:45 pm Friday.

Malegaon: 

With tearful eyes, Dr Shafeeque Ahmed Ansari was laid to rest at Bada Qabaristan in Malegaon a little before sunset on Saturday April 24, 2021. He was 54.

Dr Shafeeq Ansari had died while working for Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi at around 12:45 pm Friday after cardiac arrest. He is survived by ailing mother, wife and two adopted children.

Professor Shafeeq Ansari was originally from Malegaon and had to fight acute poverty to reach to the position he held when he breathed his last.

“Educational Journey”

Dr Shafeeque did his schooling from Malegaon before graduating from MSG College, Malegaon. Later he moved to Pune University Physics Department where he did his MSc, Mphil and PhD.

He completed his PhD in 1998-99 on Semiconductor thin films. He joined post-doctoral position at Chonbuk National University Jeonju South Korea. After that he moved to JAIST Khanazawa in Japan as JSPS fellow.

Four years later, he moved back to Chonbuk as “Brain Pool Scientist” – one of the Falgship Korean national program on Science at that time. He spent another three years as scientist then moved to Najran University in Saudi Arabia.

After a brief stay at Najran University, Dr Shafeeque Ansari moved to Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi as Associate Professor in 2008-2009 where his wife Prof. Zubaida was also a Senior Faculty in the same discipline.

At Jamia Millia Islamia, Dr Shafeeq played a key role is shaping the “Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences (CIRBSc)”. He later became its Director, working on this post from November 2016 to November 2019.

“A Brilliant Scientist”

Prof. Shafeeque was a brilliant scientist, great administrator and man of principles. He trained tens of researchers during his career from 2002-2021.

He played a key and instrumental role in elevating the ranking of Jamia Millia Islamia from 72 to 12 as Director of Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) where he invested a huge effort to put data into prospective.

Dr Shafeeque Ansari also worked as Coordinator Institute of Eminence and Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence(PURSE) run by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. He was also In-charge of the Central Instrumentation Facility of the Jamia.

Prof. Shafeeq was humble, affectionate human being, great mentor, great character, and a great and amazing personality. He was a great mentor for young students in Korea and Japan, and remained close to their heart till his death. He played crucial role in shaping his students as young researcher.

The contribution of Dr Shafeeq in Science and bringing motivation, especially among Indian Muslims, will be remembered forever.

May Almighty enlighten his grave and grant him Jannatul Firdous. Amen

[The co-writer of this obituary, Dr. Ahsanulhaq Qureshi, hails from Kashmir and is a student of Dr Shafeeque. Dr Qureshi is currently working as Sr. Professor in Abu Dhabi.]

source: http://www.ummid.com /Ummid.com / Home> Obituray / by Dr Ahsanulhaq Qureshi and Zohair M Safwan, ummid.com / April 25th, 2021

These frontline heroes have ensured dignified funerals for COVID-19 victims for over a year

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Karnataka (under research project), Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , ,

Kodagu, KARNATAKA :

Syed Hussain and Robert Rodriguez have packed the bodies of all 93 COVID victims in Kodagu and continue to work day and night without any leave since March last year.

Syed Hussain and Robert Rodriguez (Photo | Express)

Madikeri :

“I had not observed Ramzan last year and I won’t be able to take part in the festivities this year too. Work occupies a major part of my life now and my job has forced me to stay away from my family and friends,” said Syed Hussain, a forensic department staffer of Madikeri District Hospital, who is involved in packing the bodies of COVID-19 victims.

Syed joined the forensic department staff in the hospital nearly four years ago and there were moments when he questioned his career choice. “There were times when we had to conduct a postmortem of fetuses and it was heart-wrenching to carry out the job. But it was my duty,” he recalled. Syed, however, stuck to his choice and today he has offered exceptional service as a frontline COVID warrior.

Syed and Robert Rodriguez (the only other staffer in the forensic department) have packed all the 93 bodies of COVID-19 victims of Kodagu and continue to work day and night without any leave since March last year. “We have stayed away from our family since last year. It’s painful not to be a part of the festivities. But we do not want to risk others’ lives. I, however, visited my family last week. It was a short visit and I went to collect a few belongings,” said Syed.

He noted how it is stressful to always work wearing PPE kits and added that all healthcare workers including D-Group employees are working under stress to ensure the safety of citizens. “We have to do away with food and sometimes even drinking water as we are always wearing PPE kits,” he explained. He added that the government has not made new appointments to the district hospital and the existing staff is working under stress. “We do not get incentives for working overtime. Yet, we cannot demand things at this time of crisis and we go about doing our job,” he said.

He spoke out against publicity-seekers on social media and said, “We are working 24/7 under stress. Yet, some people shoot videos inside the hospital and make false allegations against healthcare workers. We do not expect anything huge in return for our work. The least we can ask from the public is respect. There might be a few loopholes in the hospital. But the public cannot highlight this illogically across social media for a minute’s fame. My only request to the public of Kodagu is – please respect all the healthcare workers. We too have family. But we are working for the greater good.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna G R / Express News Service / April 27th, 2021

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil donates AED1 million to ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign

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KERALA / U.A.E :

pix: vpshealth.com

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare, donated AED1 million to the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign, the first humanitarian campaign of its kind in the Arab world to provide food parcels for disadvantaged individuals and families across 30 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America this Ramadan.

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil’s contribution is part of the large response from companies, businessmen and community members in the UAE and abroad in support of the campaign, which was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Given the influx of donations, from philanthropist individuals and companies, the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign fully achieved its goal of 100 million meals within 10 days of its launch.

Dr. Vayalil said, “At VPS Healthcare, we are proud and privileged to be a part of this distinguished programme. It is in line with our motto to giving back to society and helping the needy.”

The 100 Million Meals campaign is managed by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, in cooperation with the UN World Food Programme, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, Food Banking Regional Network, and local food banks and humanitarian and charity institutions in beneficiary countries.

Donations to the campaign can be made on www.100millionmeals.ae, by contacting the campaign call centre on the toll-free number 8004999, via the designated bank account through Dubai Islamic Bank (AE08 0240 0015 2097 7815 201), and by sending the word “وجبة” in Arabic or “Meal” in English by SMS on specified numbers via the Du or Etisalat networks in the UAE.

source: http://www.wam.ae / Home> Emirates> English / April 24th, 2021