UAE Ganiga Samaja celebrates 6th annual day

naeem@coastaldigest.com (Media Release)

July 11, 2012

Dubai, July 11: UAE Ganiga Samaja organised its 6th Annual conference on July 6 at Dubai Grand Hotel Apartments, Bur Dubai, Dubai.

Ramachandra Ganiga Kuthpady, Vice President of Ganiga Samaja, Mumbai who was on a private visit to Dubai was the Chief Guest of the function.

K J Ganiga presided over the function, former General Manager of SyndicateBank. Along with Ramachandra Kuthpady and K.J.Ganiga, Satheesha Venkaramana, Suresha Ganiga, Arun Ganiga and Dayananda Rao were on the dais. The conference was attended by more than 90 Ganiga Samaja members which was a great success as it was held on a short notice.

The conference was initiated by Prayer to invoke God’s blessings by Mamatha Girish followed by lighting of lamp by Ramachandra Ganiga Kuthpady. Raghavendra Ganiga welcomed the President, Chief Guest, other dignitaries on the dais and all other members warmly. Vasudeva Ganiga introduced and congratulated the Chief Guest Ramachandra Ganiga Kuthpady who was recently awarded ‘ Best Social worker’ along with 10 others by M/S. JAYAKRISHNA PARISARA VEDIKE’, Mumbai. The award was handed over by Mr.Manohar Joshi, Ex Chief Minister of Maharashtra on behalf of the Vedike. The president of the function and other dignitaries on the dais were introduced by M/s. Mamatha Girish, Raghavendra Ganiga and Vasudeva Ganiga respectively. Mr. K.J.Ganiga in his presidential address requested all the community members to unite so that the Samaja can do some constructive work for the benefit of all the members.

The Senior members of Ganiga Samaja UAE Satheesha Venkatramana, Suresh Ganiga, Dayananda Rao and Janardhana Shetty were honored by the Chief Guest by giving flower bouquet on behalf of Samaja. This was followed by honoring of recently wed couples as was the tradition of the Samaja. Lokesh couple, Srinivasa couple, Bharath couple, Prasanna couple, Sachin couple, Sureshkrishna couple and Vivek couple were honoured.

The Chief Guest Ramachandra Ganiga Kuthpady along with his wife Suguna were honoured by the President of the conference K.J.Ganiga. In his address, Mr Kuthpady called upon all the members to strengthen the Samaja to do more social services for the benefit of our community at large. He also recalled how difficult it was to rejuvenate their Ganiga Samaja in Mumbai. In spite of all odds and non-cooperation by some community members they were successful in strengthening the Samaja which now owns its own office the market value of which is more than a crore now. He also thanked the organizers for inviting him as Chief Guest of this function enabling him to meet all the members in one platform as otherwise it was not possible.

Speaking on the occasion the dynamic businessman Satheesha Venkaramana requested again for the active participation of all the members and keep in touch with each other. He had nominated Harish Shetty, Vasudeva Ganiga, Prasannakumar, Raghavendra Ganiga, Ganesh Ganiga, Sacin, Sureshkrishna, Ritesh, Mahesh and Bipin as a subcommittee on behalf of the Samaja for co coordinating all future activities of the Samaja and keep active liaison with all the members on a regular basis. Satheesha had further stated that if we keep proper liaison with each and everybody the Samaja can come to the help of any member who will be in distress on any occasion. Further, it will also help members for alliance of their children as it is being done by other communities.

He further told that Blood Donation Camp by our Samaja is kept to be held on 6th August, 2012 at Lathif Hospital, Dubai. He called upon all the members to come in large numbers donate blood on the occasion, so that, it will be duly recognized by the local Government authorities which will facilitate the Samaja in getting a Certificate from them. Any future Blood requirement for any emergencies by our Samaja members will be considered by the authorities. Dayanananda Rao speaking on the occasion wished that we should help the cause of Education of our Community children back home in India, which will go a long way in improving the economic conditions of poor community members.

Cultural programme was followed after the speeches. Miss.Isha Kuthpady, daughter of Rajesh Kuthpady Mumbai recited the Shlokas by heart which was appreciated by all. This was followed by brilliant Dance performances by talented Miss. Niriksha, Miss.Manya Sathesha and Miss.Tanya Satheesha which were enjoyed and appreciated by the members.

Satheesha Venkatramana proposed vote of thanks. Satheesha Venkaramana (Chilly Willy) Vasudeva Ganiga, Prasanna Ganiga, Raghavendra Ganiga and others were present.

Comments

very nice to see the photos indicating good gathering and requested to post any event of recent years

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Good news for Indian expats in Saudi Arabia: Passport update now just a click away!

News Network

April 12,2025

Riyadh, April 12: In a welcome move for Indian expatriates and other foreign residents in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom has introduced a new online service that allows residents to update their passport information without visiting the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat). The service is available through the widely used Absher platform.

This initiative comes as a major time-saver for Indian expats, especially those renewing their passports, as it eliminates the need for lengthy in-person appointments and physical document submissions at Jawazat offices.

Who Can Use the Service?

The online update feature is available to expatriates aged 18 and above. Once a passport is renewed, Indian expats can log in to Absher (via their employers account), navigate to My Services, select Passport, and then access Resident Identity Services to update the relevant information.

A clear photo of the new passport must be uploaded. The system automatically extracts the passport number and expiry date using advanced digital recognition tools.

Before submitting, users are required to pledge that:

The old passport has not been lost.
There are no reports of absence from work.
There are no pending traffic violations linked to the resident's Iqama.
There are no security-related restrictions on the expat or the employer.

Important for Indian Families

If family members previously listed on the old passport have been issued individual passports, the online service cannot be used. In such cases, a personal visit to Jawazat is necessary to complete the update.

Likewise, if the passport is lost, the expat must report the loss and update information directly at the Jawazat office. Any misuse or incorrect submission will result in accountability under Saudi law, including potential charges of forgery.

Fee Details

To avail this convenience, a nominal fee of SR69 (including VAT) is applicable for each passport update request.

Why It Matters

With over 2 million Indians living and working in Saudi Arabia, this digital service is expected to ease the bureaucratic burden and save time for thousands of individuals who previously had to navigate crowded offices and long wait times. It also enhances accuracy and ensures smoother processing for both employees and employers.

Indian community associations have welcomed the move, calling it a step forward in digital convenience and administrative efficiency for expatriates.

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After 35 Years in Saudi Arabia, Karnataka Expat Abdulaziz Kushalnagar Passes Away in Riyadh

Abdul Hameed Padubidri

April 12,2025

Riyadh: Abdulaziz Kushalnagar, a long-time Indian expatriate from Kushalnagar, Karnataka, and a well-respected member of the Riyadh community, passed away on 10 April 2025 at a local hospital in Al Rabwah. He was 57.

According to sources close to the family and his close friend, Irfan Mani, Abdulaziz was admitted to the hospital on the 14th of Ramadan after suddenly collapsing due to a cardiac arrest. Earlier that evening, he had attended an Iftar gathering hosted by a friend in the Al-Shifa area of Riyadh. After breaking his fast and offering Maghrib prayers, he spent time conversing with friends before heading to a nearby mosque for Isha prayers.

Shortly after leaving the mosque, he reportedly began feeling unwell and collapsed from a heart attack. He was immediately rushed to the hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he slipped into a coma.

Despite ongoing medical efforts, Abdulaziz did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead on the afternoon of 10 April after showing no response to treatment.

Following the completion of all necessary legal formalities—including clearances from the Indian Embassy and Saudi authorities—his funeral was held on Saturday night after Isha and Janazah prayers at Al-Rajhi Mosque. He was laid to rest at Naseem Cemetery, where a large gathering of relatives, friends, and well-wishers came to offer their final respects.

Abdulaziz had been residing in Saudi Arabia for over 35 years and was employed with a private company in Riyadh. Known for his warm personality, humility, and dedication to community service, he actively participated in various social and cultural organizations, including the Malanadu Gulf Trust (MGT).

He is survived by his wife, four children, and a wide circle of family, friends, and community members who deeply mourn his loss. Messages of condolence have poured in from across Karnataka and the Gulf, remembering him as a kind-hearted and community-spirited individual.

Organizations such as MGT Malanadu KSA, KNRI, Karavali Welfare Association, KSF Riyadh, KCF Riyadh, and several others expressed their deep condolences and offered prayers for the departed soul.

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