The Dubai unit of the KMCC, through its exceptional services and unparalleled humanitarian initiatives, has set a benchmark for the community organizations. Dubai KMCC was formed in the late seventies as Chandrika Readers’ Forum ( Chandrika is the mouthpiece of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The organisation, which is known as the overseas wing of the IUML, was later renamed as Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC).
Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) is a voluntary organization of Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates. The Centre, which has units across the country, is engaged in a number of praiseworthy activities centered on welfare activism and cultural renaissance.
It enjoys the trust and goodwill of thousands of Indians, especially Keralites, in recognition of its efforts to provide relief to the struggling fellow beings, both in the UAE and in Kerala.
The Dubai unit of the KMCC, through its exceptional services and unparalleled humanitarian initiatives, has set a benchmark for the community organizations. Dubai KMCC was formed in the late seventies as Chandrika Readers’ Forum ( Chandrika is the mouthpiece of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The organisation, which is known as the overseas wing of the IUML, was later renamed as Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC).
Within the past four decades of its existence, Dubai KMCC has grown into a powerful organisation representing the principles and ideologies of its parent organisation in Kerala. The organisation has businessmen, profes- sionals, students, lawyers, teachers, doctors and counselors as its members.
All of them contribute towards the various activities of the organisation with their skills and resources. For example, it is the teachers and lawyers who organize workshops on behalf of the organization.
Doctors and counselors step in if there is a need for medical or mental help. Businessmen support to the welfare activities of KMCC.
Office-bearers
P K Anwar Naha, son of Avukkadarkutty Naha, former Deputy Chief Minister of Kerala and brother of Education Minister P K Abdurabb, is the president of Dubai KMCC. Ibrahim Murichandi is the general secretary and T P Mahmood Mattool is the treasurer.
Muhammed Venniyoor, R Noushad, P V Raees, Beeraavunni Thrithala, Hassa inar Thottumbhagam, Muhammed Vettukad and N C Muhammed are vice-presidents. O K Ibrahim, Musthafa Tirur, Haneef Cherkkalam, Nasar Kuttichira, C K Khader, Adv Sajid Aboobacker and Haneef Kalmatta are secretaries.
Dubai KMCC is registered as a social club under the Community Development Authority of Dubai. It has won the appreciation of Dubai Police, Municipality and Health Authority for its activities. It has been honoured for its participation in the Clean Up the World Campaign of the Dubai Government for three consecutive years. Dubai KMCC is also the only Indian organization in the UAE, which is an official invitee to the Dubai Police Parade during the UAE National Day celebrations.
Listed below are a few of the remarkable initiatives of the KMCC that aim to extend help to the needy:
Welfare Scheme
Under the Welfare Scheme of the KMCC, the family of the beneficiary receives a cash compensation of Rs 5 Lakh if he dies. Help is also offered under the Scheme if a member has an ailment that requires a huge amount of money for treatment. Besides, the Scheme seeks to help those who leave their jobs here and go back to their native place. The organisation has also launched an exclusive software for the beneficiaries to receive timely updates on the Scheme.
My Doctor
My Doctor, the Monthly Clinic being organized by the KMCC, aims to provide free medical treatment to the expatriates. The organisation regularly conducts medical camps, health awareness classes, disease detection camps, basic life support training and blood donation camps. All these are led by around a 100 expert and specialized doctors. KMCC also organizes Breast Cancer Day, World Blood Donors’ Day and Diabetes Day observance programmes to create awareness among its members.
My Lawyer (Legal Adalat)
KMCC offers free legal advice to those who are entangled in various legal issues at Legal Adalat, which is conducted fortnightly. KMCC has a Legal Adalat panel of experts to help those in need. The organisation also approaches the Labour Department and Consulate, if needed, to provide assistance to the needy.
Adv Anil, Adv Hassainar, Adv Ashraf, Adv Beena, Adv Ibrahim Khalil Bukhari, Adv Muhammed Sajid and Adv Jose Varghese associate with the legal help initiative of the KMCC by offering their expert professional services for free.
My Support (Pravasi Pension Scheme)
My Support is a pension scheme envisaged by the KMCC for its old members, who have left their jobs in the UAE, but are struggling to find an alternative means of livelihood in their native place. Deserving beneficiaries are chosen from each district of Kerala.
My Health
My Health is an insurance scheme introduced by the KMCC to help the ordinary workers who find it difficult to meet medical expenses. The scheme avails them insurance protection in return for the payment of a small premium amount. Through the insurance scheme, KMCC has successfully provided medical help to many, both in the UAE and in Kerala.
My Future
My Future is a scheme launched by Dubai KMCC to help poor children have access to education and guide the students to choose a career path that suits their aptitude. Under the scheme, several career guidance programmes have been organized and several students in Kerala have been provided monetary help for higher education. The organisation has also offered help to the students in the UAE, who are unable to pay their educational fees.
Besides, KMCC conducts Umrah service under which, groups of pilgrims go for Umrah every Wednesday.
KMCC could nurture a healthy and fruitful relationship with the Indian Consulate, thus becoming a part of the official programmes conducted by the Consulate, acting as an intermediary between the Consulate and expatriates and avail financial and legal help for those in need. KMCC started offering
Consular Services in 1992. It has won much appreciation for offering the visa and passport services responsibly.
I Smart is another initiative of the KMCC under which various personality development and career development courses and interactions with eminent personalities are conducted. Sargadhara under KMCC aims to promote the artistic skills of the members and give them an opportunity to meet eminent artists.
The organisation has a team of volunteers who offer services to repatriate the bodies of the workers who die here. It has also implemented an initiative titled Uravu in association with the Kerala Health Department, under which water dispensers were placed in around 85 Taluk Hospitals in the state.
Yet another initiative of the KMCC in the health sector of Kerala is the CH Centres. One unit of the Centre presently operates in the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Trivandrum, providing shelter and food amenities for the patients. Another unit, operating in the Calicut Medical College, houses a free pharmacy and offers voluntary service and dialysis for the poor. CH Centres are also there in Manjeri, Taliparamba, Thalassery, Alappuzha, Kannur, Thrissur, Tirur and Palakkad.
KMCC has introduced Snehasparsham scheme with the cooperation of the Social Welfare Department of the Government of Kerala. It aims to improve the basic facilities at Asha Kendrams, the shelter homes for destitute women and children in Kerala, and for the overall welfare of the inmates. Joining hands with the Literacy Mission in Kerala, KMCC also organizes SSLC Equivalency Course and examination in the UAE.
When the UAE declared Amnesty in 2012, KMCC could help thousands of expatriates to leave the country or to find a new job. Another remarkable undertaking of the KMCC was the air journey arranged for those Pravasis who wanted to cast their votes at the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections.
Dubai KMCC also avails help for those who need money for the marriage of their daughters, to build house, for the treatment of kidney diseases, cancer and also for heart surgery. Besides they offer help to those who approach them with problems related to Visa and air ticket.
KMCC has an IT section, Media Section, Sports Wing, Volunteer Wing, and Women’s Wing.
In the future, an Akshaya Centre will start functioning in Dubai under the KMCC. That will help the expatriates from Kerala to pay phone bill, electricity bill and taxes from here itself. The office of the Dubai KMCC is located Al Bahara.