KUWAIT CITY, Feb 27: The Indian community in Kuwait joined in celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of State of Kuwait in a special way. Thousands of volunteers representing Indian community attended the Beautiful Kuwait - Neighborhood Park Clean up event organized by Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA), a leading social welfare organization of Indian nationals in Kuwait.

The event held at Jleeb Park on Friday, Feb 25, 2011 was patronaged by Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) and supported by Indian business units, namely, UAE Exchange Center, Gulf Mart and Apsara Bazaar and various Indian associations.
The program began at 8:00 am with a volunteer procession participated by KKMA members, employees of participating business units, school and madrasa students along with community leaders.
The inaugural session started with a solemn flag hoisting ceremony. Shakir Awad, general manager of PAAAFR was the chief guest. Vinod Kumar, First Secretary at Indian Embassy inaugurated the event and conveyed the warmest greetings of India to leaders and people of Kuwait. Elaborating the concept of Beautiful Kuwait, Sageer Trikarpur, chairman of KKMA explained that the campaign aims to demonstrate the community spirit for keeping the neighborhood clean and safe. The event is also part of KKMA’s 10th year celebrations and a symbol of love and appreciation of Indian nationals towards Kuwait.
Mohammad Ghareeb Hatem, chairman of KKMA’s Indo Arab Relations Committee appreciated the organizers, the participating organizations and volunteers for conducting such a beautiful event. He explained that the program exhibits the civilized image of Indians in Kuwait and a good gesture that reflects the firm and strong relations between the two countries.
The inaugural session was presided by Abdul Fatah Thayyil, president of KKMA. Pancily Varkey, Country Head of UAE Exchange Center, Ramesh T.A., Country Head of Gulfmart, Mahmood Abdulla, Managing Director of Apsara Bazaar, N.A. Muneer, Vice-Chairman of KKMA felicitated the event.
Representing various associations, Faisal Manjeri (KIG), Hasan Koya, Aboobaker (Kala Kuwait), Aboobaker Siddique Madani (IIC), Abdulla Vatakara (SYS), M.A. Abdul Kader, T.M. Ishaq, Sathar Kunnil (IMCC), Munawar Mohammad (CIGI), Thomas Mathew Kadavil, J. Albert (Kala), Chandra Mohan (FOKE), Salam Kalanad, Anil Kallar (KEA), Hasan Yusuf (KMWA), Murali Manohar (Kalanjali), Helen Pinto, Swarna Shetty (Tulu Kootta) and Durriya (TNT) attended the inaugural session.
To mark the occasion all participating volunteers and guests took a solemn pledge to keep the environment clean and safe and do their part to protect the environment led and administered by K. Basheer, the organizing secretary of KKMA.

The cultural show conducted by Shamsuddin Kottappuram and participated by young kids of KKMA’s ladies wing IMLA was an added attraction.
Over a six hundred enthusiastic volunteers, formed in 10 teams cleaned up the entire Jleeb Park and surrounding areas including of sidewalks, children’s play area, football and cricket courts by collecting trash from the entire site and disposing them safely. The program started at 8:00 am and ended with an awareness campaign in Abbasiya wherein volunteers approached the community and spread the message of safety and cleanliness.

The event was first of its kind event wherein a large number of social organizations joined together for a public cause. Along with KKMA, Tulu Koota Kuwait, Kalanjali Kuwait, Indian Islahi Center, Kerala Islamic Group, Kasargod Expatriate Association, Friends of Kannur Expatriates, Karnataka Muslim Welfare Association, and employees of UAE Exchange Center, Gulfmart, Apsarabazar and TNT joined to make the event a grand success.

The campaign was effectively executed by an event team headed by Hamza Payyanur as team leader, Ibrahim Kunnil, K. Basheer, B.M. Iqbal and A.P. Abdul Salam as leaders for various activities. A steering committee consisted of KKMA’s management committee members Sageer Trikarpur, N.A. Muneer, Akbar Siddique, Sayed Rafique and Rayin Kutty Hajee along with central and branch committee leaders provided guidelines and encouraged volunteers to effectively execute the clean up event.
Hamza Payyanur, the event team leader welcomed the audience. KKMA’s general secretary A.P. Abdul Salam proposed vote of thanks. The program was ably compeered by S.M. Basheer, president of KKMA’s Dakshina Kannada chapter.