Muscat: His heart reaches out to the needy. His hands reach for pocket to donate for worthy cause because Indian entrepreneur Dinesh Dawda wants to leave a humble contribution to the world.
"There's no guarantee of life and I have earned enough to last rest of my life so I want to share my wealth with people who need it," said Dawda, who is known in Oman for generously contributing for charitable causes.
He has been at the forefront to collect funds and relief material for people affected by the devastating earthquake in Pakistan. He also chipped in with personal contribution when Oman Charitable organisation needed funds as well as relief material for the people of Lebanon during the recent war.
"I am willing to donate as much as I can for good cause," said the 49-year-old businessman. He is into trading and his wife Bhavna Dawda runs a successful parlour in Muscat.
Health care
Reminiscing about his early days, Dawda said: "I would like to remember what I was and not what I am today." He said that it was a hand-to-mouth situation for him when he arrived in Oman 30 years ago. "With my wife, I gradually built business and with God's grace we are doing well."
Having seen the struggle, Dawda tries to help those struggling due to lack of finances. Now he has started a new initiative, Mediline, where poor workers suffering from ailments would be given free medical services in India.
"I have come across several cases of sick and injured Indians workers who have lost life as they could not afford expensive medical treatment like heart operations and kidney transplants," he said.
He is coordinating with various medical institutions in India, airlines and other bodies to ensure these workers get timely and proper treatment without having to worry about finances. "If need be I would pay myself but make sure that these workers don't suffer."
Guidance
He also reckons that lack of information for the illiterate and unskilled workers was another factor where they go without treatment. "A team of doctors are joining me in India as well as here to provide information and guidance to such patients," he said.
"A team of medical professionals would give the required assistance as and when they reach India for further treatment. I have already made arrangements in Gujarat and Maharashtra with the help of a team of leading doctors and am looking to see if we can make similar arrangements in other states too," Dawda told Gulf News yesterday.
He has tied up with a hospital at Rajkot in western Indian state of Gujarat for heart surgeries. "They will give free treatment, including surgery, to deserving poor people," he added.
"Most of them belong to the underprivileged [labour] classes.
"Most of them are scared to approach hospitals in India because of the cost factor. Since they know that they would not be able to afford it, they
do not attempt to pursue the matter," he added.
Dawda said he is trying to be merely a linkman and nothing more than.
He said that due to bureaucratic formalities it might take time for him to set up Medilink in Oman.
"It is in place in Gujarat and Maharashtra state and I am talking to airlines to provide at least reduced fares for these patients."
Through Mediline, he wants to reduce the pain of the poor labour force but he only calls it a job of a postman.
"I am just the postman who is doing his job," Dawda concluded.
