NRIs invited to help set up Kerala college

Non Resident Indians (NRIs) in the emirates have been invited by an Indian Muslim organisation to help in setting up an engineering college in Kollam District of Kerala to promote higher technical education in the state.

The college will play a leading role in enhancing education and skills among young Keralites living in the coastal areas of the state which are currently lacking modern educational facilities, said an official of the Umm Al Mu'minin Society yesterday.

P. K. Abdul Kalam, a Keralite businessman in Abu Dhabi who is also the chairman of the college's committee, said the institution has been designed to provide education in mechanical, electrical and electronics engineering.

"This college is being established with a view to provide hi-tech education to the socially and educationally backward people of the areas," he said.

The society has conducted a survey in the coastal areas to determine the educational needs of the people. Once established, the college will help in dispensing skills among all Keralite youths without any discrimination.

He said the society has contacted N. Soopi, Minister of Education in Kerala, and M.M. Hassan, Minister for Overseas Keralites, and other authorities in the state to get permission for the college.

The society has acquired 7.5 hectares of land and another 7.5 hectares will be bought in the near future, said Kalam.

M. Sulaiman Kunju, President of the Umm Al Mu'minin Society, said a system has been devised to raise funds for the project.

"We have decided that some 200 members of the society will donate a sum of Rs200,000 (Dh15,500) per head to the college fund. These members or their nominees will be given certain privileges at the time of admission".

Kunju said NRIs living in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other emirates can become a member of the society to participate in the project. "It's a great human service and NRIs should come forward for the service of their people and the country," he added.

The Umm Al Mu'minin Society was set up in 1998, mainly by a group of Keralite expatriates who are living in Abu Dhabi.

The society has laid down a number of welfare objectives to be achieved with the support of some 1,000 members in India and abroad.

The prime focus of the organisation is to set up an engineering college and an Islamic Cultural Centre at Akkolicheri in Mayyanad district. The society also aims at protecting Islamic culture and civilisation.