Abu Dhabi: Sameer Mukrika Valappil may have never heard of HR jargons like after-service benefits or employee welfare schemes. But the compassion and generosity of this grocery owner towards his bed-ridden employee will put many a company to shame.
The 33-year-old Indian expatriate who runs a grocery store in Al Shahama, Abu Dhabi has been religiously taking care of his Bangladeshi assistant who is in coma at Al Rahba Hospital in Al Shahama following an accident in October last year.
And he’s doing it by spending money from his own pocket. Not only that, he’s even sending money to the family of Mohammad Yousuf Siddique, 29.
Valappil told XPRESS he has already paid off Siddique’s debts worth Dh5,000 back home and regularly sends money to his poor family.
Trying to raise funds
The kind-hearted employer is currently trying to raise funds to repatriate the bed-ridden young man to his home country. “I am just doing my duty, which is to help those in need. The reward will come from God if I am in a difficult situation,” Valappil told XPRESS.
Siddique had worked at his grocery for hardly two months when the accident happened. “A group of guys in a Lexus car stopped outside my store, and asked Siddique to get a Dh100 telephone card and change for Dh1,000. They snatched the card and money from him and drove away. He was trying to chase them when he fell down and hit his head against a hard surface,” said Valappil.
Siddique sustained severe injuries to his head and slipped into a coma.
The Bangladeshi’s family back home consisting of his wife, a two-year-old child, parents and five sisters were solely dependent on Siddique, whose meagre salary of Dh800 was just enough to put bread on their table.
But after the accident, it is Valappil’s regular money remittance to Bangladesh that is keeping their pot boiling. “I try to send them money whenever I can. It could have been me in his place. Though I do not know his family, I know they are very poor and have no one to support them,” said Valappil who is married with two kids and has been running the grocery for three years.
He said Siddique has to be sent back home as his condition is deteriorating. “A few months ago he was better and was responding to his surroundings. Doctors say he needs people around to interact with him and make him listen to music so that his chances of recovery are high.”
Valappil said he is willing to contribute Dh20,000 for Siddique’s repatriation, but is seeking help from generous souls to help the man’s treatment in Bangladesh.
If you wish to help Siddiqui, write to: editor@xpress4me.com or you could contact Sameer directly on 055-273 0024
