MAD' volunteers return after tour

September 25, 2011

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Mangalore, September 25: Make a Difference (MAD), a youth volunteer network that works with underprivileged children completed 'Tour de difference' wherein volunteers cycled to 12 Indian cities, and covered 4,240 kilometers in the months of August and September and were able to raise a sum of Rs 3.60 lakh towards the purchase of Cambridge syllabus textbooks for 300 underprivileged children in Mangalore.

Sharing the experience, Raichand, a final year MBBS student from KMC Mangalore, said: “I am very excited having completed a huge task.”

Sebastian Thele from Germany said the tour was an amazing experience. “I did not have such an experience in my life.” While Sudhith from Cohin who joined the team from Cochin said it was an awesome experience. “We met people who were curious to know what MAD is all about,” he said.

Speaking about the condition of the road, both Raichand and Sebastian said the roads were excellent till Kerala. “However, the roads are in deplorable condition in Kerala. There were few stretches where one had to search for the existence of the road.”

MAD Mangalore chapter President Greeshma Rai said that the main objective of the expedition was to raise Rs 100 for every kilometre the cyclists cover, and thereby meet the costs incurred by the Mangalore chapter of MAD on Cambridge syllabus textbooks for the 300 children under its wings and to also promote and stress the importance of education to the future of the country.

A rally was organised to welcome Tour de Difference back to Mangalore. The rally concluded at Mangalore Press Club on Saturday. They cycled to 12 cities—Mangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Viojayawada, Chennai, Vellore, Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin.

MAD in Mangalore has been instrumental in four centres namely Balika Ashram in Kankanady, Aloysius Boys Homes, Ullal, Prajna Group of Institutions at Marnamikatta and CARDTS, Nantoor.

Programmes

She said the riders and the MAD volunteers will be a part of the final stage of the 'design for change,' an international competition, where children will be implementing solutions to tackle the various problems affecting their lives. There will be a photo exhibition of the 'tour's' travels put up at City Centre mall throughout the weekend.

On Sunday, the riders and volunteers will paint and renovate the CARDTS Centre. To celebrate the end of TdD, different bands from across the city will compete in the 'The Big Band theory' at Mangalore Ladies Club at Light House Hill road on Sunday at 4.30 pm, she added.

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News Network
November 14,2024

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Bengaluru: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi led union government has requested the Karnataka High Court to direct the Mandya district administration and the state government to clear a madrasa operating within the premises of the historic Jama Masjid in Srirangapatna.

The Waqf Board, opposing this move, has claimed the mosque as its property and defended the right to conduct madrasa activities there.

The matter was brought before a division bench headed by Chief Justice N V Anjaria following a public interest litigation filed by a person named Abhishek Gowda from Kabbalu village in Kanakapura taluk. The petition alleged “unauthorised madrasa activities” within the mosque.

Representing the Central government, Additional Solicitor General of India for High Court of Karnataka, K Arvind Kamath argued that the Jama Masjid was designated as a protected monument in 1951, yet unauthorised madrasa operations continue there.

He noted that concerns over potential law and order issues have so far prevented any intervention. Kamath urged the court to direct the Mandya district administration to take action and vacate the madrasa from the mosque.

In defence, lawyers for the state government and the Waqf Board contested this request, stating that the Waqf Board had been recognised as the owner of the property since 1963 and, thus, conducting madrasa activities there is lawful.

After hearing both sides, the bench adjourned the case for further arguments, scheduling the next hearing for November 20.

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News Network
November 21,2024

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Prominent NRI community leader SM Syed Khalilur Rehman, fondly known as CA Khalil, passed away in Dubai on Thursday at the age of 86 after a brief illness.

Khalil had been admitted to Aster Hospital in Mankhool on Tuesday after experiencing severe leg weakness. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, he succumbed to a double heart attack that worsened his condition, his son Rais Ahmed confirmed.

The news of his passing has sent waves of grief across communities, particularly in his hometown of Bhatkal, Karnataka, where he was a celebrated figure. Tributes have been pouring in on social media, highlighting his significant contributions to international trade, social service, and education.

A Legacy of Leadership and Service

A chartered accountant by profession, Khalil was a founding member of the Dubai chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), where he served as chairman from 1987 to 1994. His illustrious career included key leadership roles, such as general manager of Khaleej Times, group executive director of the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group, and vice-chairman of the Jashanmal Group of Companies.

He also chaired Maadhyama Communications and Sahil Online, a web-based news platform, and was a director and trustee of several media companies and charitable organisations in Dubai and India.

A Champion for Education and Philanthropy

Khalil’s impact extended far beyond his professional achievements. As president and general secretary of Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen, he played a pivotal role in the development of educational institutions, including schools and colleges in Bhatkal and surrounding areas. His dedication to social upliftment earned him recognition from the Government of Karnataka, which honoured him with a prestigious award for his philanthropic contributions.

A Life Celebrated

The Bhatkal Muslim Khaleej Council (BMKC) recently released a documentary celebrating Khalil’s remarkable life and service to the community—a testament to his enduring legacy.

CA Khalil is survived by his family and countless admirers across the globe. His passing marks the end of an era for Indian expatriates in the UAE and beyond, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, generosity, and commitment to community service.

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News Network
November 22,2024

Mangaluru: A man fell victim to an online scam, losing Rs 1.7 crore after fraudsters posed as officials from TRAI. According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, the incident began on November 11, when the complainant received a call from an unknown number at 9:49 am.

The caller, claiming to represent TRAI, alleged that another mobile number registered under the complainant's name was involved in illegal activities in Andheri (East), Mumbai. The caller further stated that an FIR was lodged against the complainant for harassment under the guise of marketing. He was instructed to contact Andheri (East) police station immediately or risk his mobile service being deactivated within two hours.

The complainant was subsequently connected to an individual named Pradeep Sawant, who claimed the complainant was implicated in a money laundering scheme linked to the Naresh Goyal fraud case. Sawant alleged that a fraudulent bank account under the complainant's name was opened at Canara Bank, Andheri, and used to purchase a SIM card for illegal activities. He warned that the complainant could face arrest.

Later, the complainant was contacted via WhatsApp video call by individuals posing as Rahul Kumar (a police officer) and Akanksha (a CBI officer). They allegedly sent fabricated CBI documents to his WhatsApp number. The fraudsters demanded money to "resolve" the case. Fearing threats, the complainant allegedly transferred Rs 1.7 crore through RTGS in batches of Rs 53 lakh, Rs 74 lakh, and Rs 44 lakh between November 13 and 19. A case has been registered at the CEN police station and an investigation is ongoing.

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