JEDDAH — Andhra Pradesh Youth Welfare Association (APYWA) has now been renamed as Telangana Youth Welfare Association (TYWA) after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and creation of a separate 29th Indian state of Telangana. Zubair Mohammed, head of the Technology Systems department of a leading Consulting company in Jedda, has been appointed as the president TYWA Jeddah. The steering committee comprising founder members of TYWA announced that the tenure of Mohammed, who hails from Hyderabad, will be of two years, from 2014 to 2016 (June). It also called upon the executive committee, office bearers and members to extend their full cooperation and support for welfare programs to be conducted in his tenure. Since its inception in April 1997 as a non-political and non-profit organization, TYWA is a blend of multi-cultural and multi-religious body comprising young members from Telangana who wish to serve the Telangana Community irrespective of religion, region, caste, creed and/or economic status within the preview of the rules, regulations and laws existing in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its axiom was to provide a platform to educated and talented youths to promote education and sports, and create awareness among the Telangana Community by organizing competitions, educational seminars, sports activities etc. to encourage children of all schools in Jeddah to develop their competitive skills. Within a span of 17 years, TYWA has successfully organized career guidance program, healthcare awareness, repatriation of dead bodies of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh workers who died in the kingdom with the help of Consulate General of India, Jeddah and Saudi authorities; Indian Mughlai Food Festival at Dewaniyah Jeddah; organized a business delegation from Hyderabad apart from felicitation of sports personalities along with reception for prominent Indian social workers and outgoing officials in recognition of their services to the community. TYWA align with the Telangana Gulf Forum, the oldest Telangana Forum in Saudi Arabia, are addressing Telangana people's grievances for a long time with dedication and passion. Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki, chief patron, said that his association has decided to participate in the welfare of Telangana people exclusively. “We will not be part and parcel of any United Telangana Forums in Jeddah while open to issue support for the welfare cause.” The new General Secretary, Syed Baqer Ali, said that unique characteristics of ‘unity in diversity' among the Telangana community in Saudi Arabia, is further strengthened with the composition of the office bearers by allocation of specific regional representation from majority of districts: Vice Presidents Anwar-Ul-Haq (Hyderabad), Aslam Shareef (Ranga Reddy), Khaja Munnawar Hussain (Kareemnagar), K. Venkat Reddy (Nalgonda), Abdul Razzak (Nizamabad), Gangadar (Adilabad), Sabeel Ahmed (Medak), Mir Taqi Ali (Mahboobnagar), Mohammed Abdul Jaleel (Warangal), and Khaja Anwar (Khammam). In addtion to Azhar Ahmed being the vice patron, Nasir Mohiuddin, Syed Viqar Ahmed, Syed Kazim Hussain and Arif Ahmed Khan, Patrons; Azhar Ali Khan, joint secretary; Hameeduddin Asif, media coordinator; Sulayman Mazhar Khan and Syed Jahandar Hussain, event coordinators; Anwar Khan, treasurer; and Mir Mohammed Ali, Syed Aijaz Hussain, Mir Ghousuddin Ali Khan, Abdul Majeed, Mohammed Ibrahim, Farooq Ahmed, Abdul Majeed and Mohammed Murtuza Khan, executive members. — SG
