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Dubai A Dubai-based Sikh welfare group is going all out to foster a sense of community during Ramadan by reaching out to thousands of Muslims in the UAE and India.
S.P. Singh Oberoi, President of the Welfare of Mankind, said the group is distributing thousands of packets of fruits and fruit juices at iftars being held in different parts of the city, besides supplying dry rations to workers and holding weekly blood donation camps.
“This is a small gesture from our end to give back to a country which has given us so much. The concept of sharing food and building a sense of community is also the basis of our langar (community kitchen) in the Sikh culture,” he said.
All over the city
On Tuesday, around 10 volunteers of Welfare of Mankind, including Oberoi, distributed 2,000 fruit and juice packets to residents ending fast outside a mosque on Bur Dubai’s Rolla Street. “We are doing this in different parts of the city as a goodwill gesture,” said Amandeep Singh, general secretary of the group.
“Ramadan is all about love and kindness,” said Ilyas, a 27-year-old Pakistani worker after receiving a fruit packet.
“It feels nice to see everyone together in the true spirit of the season,” said Indian salesman Abdul Rahman, 42.
“Alhamdulillah, no one goes hungry,” said 50-year-old Hameed, a cafeteria worker.
Oberoi said Welfare of Mankind is also organising weekly blood donation camps during Ramadan. “We conducted such camps last year as well. Going by the earlier figures, each camp should yield around 100 to 120 donations.”
He said the group also regularly distributes dry rations to workers and others wherever there is a requirement.
In addition, he said the group has undertaken many initiatives in India. “We provided eye check-ups for 1,300 residents of Jammu & Kashmir, 80 per cent of whom were Muslims. Over 800 of them were given glasses and 41 cataract operations were conducted – all free of cost. We will be distributing 25kg rice bags to 800 needy families in Srinagar and Baramula ahead of Eid. We have also set up four computer centres with six computers each and four sewing centres with 10 sewing machines in the villages.”
