Muscat: P M Jabir, Social Welfare Secretary with the Indian Social Club in Muscat, will be awarded with the Al Shifa Award Thursday at Qurum Amphitheatre in Muscat by the Bahrain-based Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group.
Jabir's phone never stops ringing as he is one of the most sought persons, especially among the Indian expatriates in distress. Since 1982, Jabir has been helping Indian expatriates, more so blue collar workers.
Those seeking unpaid wages, financial help for medical expenses or even to send a body back home, contact Jabir, who is available round-the-clock. "I have been fortunate enough to alleviate the distress and suffering of the Indian Diaspora, on a regular basis for now almost three decades," the modest social worker said.
Talking about his involvement with the Indian Embassy in sending home remains of expatriates or performing final rites of unclaimed bodies Jabir said: "I have handled 3,000 death cases so far."
Jabir has effectively used the platform of Pravasilokam - a programme on Indian satellite television channel Kairlai. This programme helps people in India to find their missing relatives abroad. "Over a period of 10 years, more than 70 Indians have been found by me and my team in Oman and repatriated back. This is the highest number from any country in the world," he claimed.
"I am indebted to my wife - Shahanaz - for supporting me when I give so much time for social work, she has always stood by me," said one of the founder members of the Kerala Wing of the Indian Social Club.
"Jabir is a towering personality who has been actively involved in alleviating the distress and suffering of the Indian Diaspora since 1982 in Muscat. So this time we have chosen the right person for the award," said K T Rabiullah, Chairman of Shifa Al Jazeera Medical group, which has presence in Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in the GCC.
