Saudi Gazette JEDDAH - Oommen Chandy, senior leader of Indian National Congress party, launched a series of humanitarian initiatives of the western regional chapter of the Overseas Indian Cultural Congress (OICC) during a family get together event called "Karunya Varsham" (charity downpour), held in Sharafiyyah, Jeddah. Mohammed Alungal, president of Abeer Medical Group, presented the memento on behalf of Jeddah community to Chandy. The former chief minister of Kerala released the logo of giving 33 air tickets to the poor among the beneficiaries of amnesty to mark OICC's 33th year of activities. Chandy also inaugurated the scheme to give dresses and other essential goods to inmates of elderly homes in Kerala, scheme for conducting marriage of five destitute girls, medical assistance scheme for the poor people among the Gulf returnees, and a scheme to donate uniforms for OICC Haj cell volunteers. KC Joseph released the logo of a yearlong campaign in Kerala called "Thrift is the best saving". Chandy presented mementos to those who made outstanding contributions in different fields. They included Mohammed Alungal, V.P. Mohammed Ali, chairman of Jeddah National Hospital, Abdullah Mohammed (Hiba Asia Clinic), Shiyas V.P (Impala Group), Qairu Abdul Raheem (Zahrani Group), Najeeb Kalappadan (EFS Cargo), Tony Joseph (Strike Footwear Group), K. Sulaiman Haji (Ahdab School), Dr. Sri Ram Kumar (King Abdulaziz University), and Arshad Naufal (New Gulail Clinic). K.T.A. Muneer, president of OICC western region, presided over the function in which the speakers included K.C. Joseph, Dr. Fahd Al-Hodali, Saeed Turki, K.M. Sharif Kunju, global committee general secretary of OICC, Mohammed Alungal, V.P Mohammed Ali, Rasheed Kolathara, P.M. Najeeb, Chemban Abbas, Abdul Majeed Naha, and Kunhali Haji. General Secretary Zakir Hussain Edavanna welcomed the gathering and Srijith Kannur proposed a vote of thanks. Chandy and Joseph also attended a meeting of the Indian business community in Jeddah.
