LONDON — Prominent Gulf-based businessman and chairman of Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group Dr. K.T. Rabeeullah received the prestigious "Pravasi Ratna Award" recently for his outstanding contributions to community welfare and humanitarian initiatives. Renowned Indian film actor Bharat Mammootty presented the prestigious award to him at Europe's first Malayalam Movie Award Show held in Manchester on May 28. The award was instituted by the Manchester-based Anand TV, the first independent Malayalam channel in Europe, and the European Malayalam Association. Felicitating the Indian philanthropist, Mammootty described Rabiullah as one of the most popular expatriate businessmen who carved a niche in the humanitarian and charity work. "Rabiullah has become a role model for the entire business community and affluent segment of the society with his humanitarian initiatives. He has been involved in numerous humanitarian activities with the sole motive of alleviating the suffering of the poor and the destitute at a time when the bonds of love, empathy and compassion lose their real essence and value in the society," he said. According to Mammootty, Rabiullah has proved that business is not only the means to earn profit but also a great blessing from God to lend a helping hand to the poor and weaker sections around," he said. Speaking on the occasion, Rabiullah expressed his happiness at being selected for the prestigious award. He recalled that the growth of his organization was made possible only through hard work and sharing a part of his financial gains with the weaker sections in the society. The jury considered him for the award in recognition of his noble and charitable work over a span of three decades in helping fellow human beings and alleviating their suffering. Rabeeullah is renowned for his philanthropic activities. For him, charity begins at home in every sense of the word. The much acclaimed pension scheme that he has implemented at his village is the finest example for this. He has adopted his native village of East Kodur in Malappuram district of the southern Indian state of Kerala. Rabeeullah has been a source of livelihood for several families by offering them free auto rickshaws. He also supports numerous deprived students by sponsoring their fees and scholarships, and poor sick people with providing medical aid. Rabeeullah has won accolades during the three-decade long services in the social and charitable fields. In 2013, he was conferred with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Award, the highest honor accorded to overseas Indians by the Indian government for their pioneering role in enhancing India's image globally. Rabeeullah has recently started a charity initiative worth $1.5 million to be distributed within three years for the needy and destitute families. Last month, he extended help for the family of Jisha, a law student who was brutally raped and murdered in Perumbavoor, Kerala by offering five cent of land to construct a house and BHD 1,800 to Jisha's mother as assistance. In April, Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group extended financial assistance worth 6,050,000 Indian rupees ($90,745) to the families of those killed in a massive temple fire in the southern district of Kollam.
