News and Pics by P A Hameed Padubidri
for Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh (GA)
Riyadh, Aug 12: One more milestone has been achieved by Karavali Welfare Association-Riyadh (KWAR) as its four-member delegation recently met the Indian Ambassador M O H Farooq at his office in Indian Embassy in Riyadh. The delegation consisting of KWAR president Vijay Rai, vice-president Khasim Ahmed, joint secretary Parvez Ali and coordinator Rajesh, elucidated the purpose behind the formation of KWAR in Riyadh in particular and in the Kingdom in general, and shed a light on the grievances being faced by Mangaloreans in the Kingdom including the non-availability of direct flight to Mangalore. A memorandum was also submitted to the Ambassador requesting him to recommend for having the necessary facilities including the direct international flight from Saudi Arabia to Mangalore.
“The meeting with the Ambassador really etched in our mind as he showed his humane gesture towards us and his interest to know the culture and even grumbles of Mangaloreans; he promised that he will have a look at the memorandum and consider it on priority to get it realized including the recommendation for the direct flight to Mangalore,” the delegation said in elation.
Karavali Welfare Association Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (KWAR) is a non-profit voluntary Organization formed with broad objective of doing across-the-board social and community services particularly to the people of Mangalore in and outside the Kingdom.
The Association comprised of non-residents of the coastal region of Karnataka State, who strongly believe in unity and equality in all respects. The people of this part were deprived of various facilities and benefits and their assorted grievances were not properly addressed only because of non-availability of a suitable voice to represent them. Knowing the big vacuum, the people of different communities of this locale in Riyadh came together with common understanding under a common platform and shaped up the said Association by setting it in motion to implement its constructive objectives step-by-step. Initially a campaign for requesting direct flight link between Riyadh and Mangalore was taken up by the association. Its future plans will take account of organizing cultural, educational, personality development and charity raising programmes including setting up a job link for its members and others alike.
“The meeting has boosted up our morale to accelerate our pace and we are confident that our request will definitely be given a high priority and our dream of the direct flight from Riyadh to Mangalore will not be remote” both the president and vice-president of KWAR said while speaking to the Daijiworld Correspondent.