Stranded man gets aid pledge to settle debts
Published: Sunday, 20 July, 2008, 12:28 AM Doha Time
By Ramesh Mathew
Two Indian businessmen have agreed to pay the money required to settle the debts of P Aboo, an Indian national who has been stranded in Qatar for nine years as he has not been able to clear rent arrears amounting to about QR200,000.
Though Aboo has repaid over QR150,000 by doing odd jobs after his restaurant folded in 2001, he still owes his building owner about QR40,000.
Responding to Aboo’s story published in Gulf Times, managing director of Consilium Qatar M Sivasankar yesterday promised QR15,000 while chairman of Nasser al-Hajri Trading and Contracting Company Ravi Pillai pledged QR10,000.
According to sources, the lawyer of the landlord has agreed to settle the matter if Aboo paid QR25,000.
The donors have intimated their decision to Indian Nationals Abroad president Nizar Kochery and urged him to co-ordinate the matter with concerned parties.
“The money will be handed over to Indian Ambassador George Joseph in a day or two,” Kochery told Gulf Times.
Lauding all who came forward to help Aboo, the ambassador in a mail to this newspaper said: “Once again, the Indian community in Qatar rose to the occasion for helping a needy brother. It is heart-warming indeed to see how people reacted in their own ways, doing the best each one can….. Some write…, some share their concern with others … while some others come to their aid…
“This enormous fund of goodwill towards others is the distinguishing trait of our community in Qatar. No one has yet invented a yardstick to measure concern.”
Reacting to the Gulf Times report, some other Indians, including Indian Community Benevolent Fund (ICBF) president Dr Mohan Thomas have agreed to provide Aboo with financial assistance. Nilafour Ghassain, a bank official too has expressed her desire to help the stranded man.
The 61-year-old Aboo, who had to close down his restaurant in 2001 after he suffered huge losses, has been doing all kinds of odd jobs to repay his rental arrears, which at one time stood close to QR200,000.
Aboo is a native of Chavakkad in Kerala’s Thrissur district. He has a wife and a 19-year-old daughter back home.
Source: Gulf-times.com
Speed Comments:
It is indeed a great news for all of us that finally someone has come forward and offer to settle QR. 25,000/- to the stranded man ;-) Kuddos to Mr. Sivasankar and Mr.Pillai for their generosity and kind heart.
I must admit that QL Community was the first to react and they came forward and offer their help. As per the response received by Qlers I estimated that in just 1 day we had indication that around QR. 7000/- to QR.10,000/- towards contribution to the poor man who suffered enormously for the last 10 years and who had bleak future.
We will collect this money and ensure that it reaches him regardless of the settlement of his loans. As this money will help this poor man to start a new life at this very old age where he is meeting his family after almost 9 years he must be having requirements to meet the needs of his family.
I hope you will agree to this view and contribute the money to enable him and his family to have some kind of good feelings and relieve their miseries at last.
I suggest we all meet at coffee shop (day time to be decided after your suggestions) and handover the collections to Dr. Mohan Thomas, the presidend of Indian Community Benevolent Fund(ICBF) in the presence of meida so that our every step is transparent to public.
All suggestions are welcome !
Link to QLVG earlier Appeal : http://www.qatarliving.com/node/146167
mariam .... i will send you PM in thde morning .. we will be in Patatas from 5pm to 8pm max on Wed. 23.07.08
But i will try to find some soultion for you ;-)
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Speed!!!
Pls wait for me on Wednesday, i want to extend help too... Venue, Patatas, ok, i know the place, God's willing, i will go there, but might come between 8:30 - 9:30.
"There's nothing we can do to change the past, if it teaches you a lesson profit from it then, forget it."
I will be there today, God willing.
its not blabla....ok
and Wednesday Evening pls.
Thanks for extending your help as usual !!!
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The thread has been posted for Coffee and Collection for Tomorrow Monday and Wednesday... (21.07. 2008 * 23.07.2008)
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/147927
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Just dont do it on tuesday night.
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the suitable location for donation collection.
Ksarat16 will announce the Venue shortly in a separate thread.
Also I will send all QLVG members a separate email notification.
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Count me tooooooooo pls let me know the date & time & loc
Count me as well.
Not bad at all...pretty much getting wasted these days...LOL!!! this weekend should do something nice...how about you calling me over for Lunch...now it cant get better than that...right...LOL!!! Guess what...I'm BUSY AT WORK!!!
Good good...lil busy at work...how are you? how was your weekend?
Let me know when and where to give the money. Your office is near my house... maybe I can give it to you on my way back from work.
You could drop it with me...Not yourself, the Money ofcourse...LOL!
how you doing today girl...?
I always count on people like you in QL :-)
With our small contribution we can bring SMILE on poor man and his family. And to all those who are in need of help !
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I hadnt seen the previous thread but have read it now... Please count me in.. just update me with all the details..
WYSIWYG
Indeed rightly put, lets see what Speed and QLVG can do, I'm sure Speed appreciates your understanding and willingness to help, I guess we are working on the Venue and time...so just hang in there and keep watching either this space or elsewhere on QL for further updates mate...!!!
Some people will probably feel differently if his arrears are paid, but I think you should still take up a collection from those of us that still want to help.
It would be nice for him to be able to go home (does he even have money to get home?) and have a little bit to help him get set up.
Just let us know a time and a place.
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Build a man a fire and he will be warm
for a day; set a man on fire and he
will be warm the rest of his life.
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Morning to all,
Please do Count me in Speed Paaji (Post Edited, cos I now have my small tiny cusiosity cleared...LOL!)
I must say 9 yrs and not seen his daughter, I mean thats quite sad and it must be eating into his health...o well, lets get this over and send this man back HOME...
speed a quick comment, rather than QRC why dont we give this to ICBF, or has this already been thought off...
whatever, I shall put in my 2 cents (QR 100/-) towards this cause...
Its good to see the Indian Community and ofcourse th QL Community come forward to help this man o well...
And needless to say, Speed paaji, indeed you are sent from the heaven for QL...so keep that spirits up and you know you have those select few and a lot many who are there with you on this Mission to Mankind...
God Bless...
Cheers...!!!
(Alright, I need my coffee!!!)
Well done Speed and congratulations by being one of the excellent coordinator in Aboo's case.....
please read his story on the link I have provided above and read the comments by all kind heart Qlers ... your Out of Curiosity' will be cleared :-)
Good Morning !!
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Speed..
Great Work and Jazak Allah Khair...
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Have Courage To Live.
Anyone Can Die.
HI Speed.. good to hear that Aboo is going to get rid of the problems and be with his family soon. You are absolutely right and lets give this money to him which will be a great help to him once he reach back home empty handed.
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''BELOW THREAD NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE''
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/146167#comment-505112
You can't teach experience
You can't teach experience
the venue could be the SILVER CAFE as it's spaceous and
comfy.
Or the COFFEE BEANERY at Ramada Junction...it's accessible to everyone though the parking is kinda small....
Mr. Aboo could join us so we could meet him too...
NOTE: kindly keep this thread afresh so it's stays on the top of the front page for everyone to see/read...
I will get his details today ...I will update you all regarding Mr. Abboo after my meeting with him (hopefully).
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the only thing I find sad is that the poor man has been struggling for nine years, hope he gets to have a peaceful old age in India with his family, bless him.
Speed... is there anyway for QL'ers to meet direct with Mr.Aboo and give the money direct to him?