Stranded expat in emotional plea to help him
Published: Friday, 18 July, 2008, 01:52 AM Doha Time
By Ramesh Mathew
AN Indian expatriate whose restaurant folded has spent the past seven years trying to pay back QR200,000 in rent arrears – so he can finally return home.
P Aboo has taken every odd job under the sun to cover the debt – from electrical work to plumbing – but age and ill health are now starting to take their toll.
Furthermore, he has not seen his only daughter for the past nine years because he is effectively stranded in the country, and he has been without a residence permit for two. Now, only QR40,000 short of becoming a free man, the 61-year-old is at his wit’s end.
He told Gulf Times: “My failing health is not allowing me to hang on here anymore and I need to be with my wife and daughter at the earliest.”
Aboo, who comes from Chavakkad in Kerala’s Thrissur district, had opened a restaurant in Fariq Bin Mahmood area, but financial difficulties caused its closure in 2001.
Following a legal battle with the owner, Aboo was told he could not leave the country until the debt was fully repaid.
He explained: “When I closed down the restaurant I owed about QR200,000 to the building owner. By doing petty jobs here and there, I managed to repay more than three-quarters of my arrears. It was with severe difficulties that I managed to pay more than QR150,000 to the building owner.”
Aboo insists he has no intention of cheating the owner of the building out of his rightful money, but he said the job was now near impossible.
“My mind is still willing but physically I can’t deliver duties in the way I had done earlier,” he admitted.
The Keralite’s unfortunate circumstances are also exacerbated by the fact that he has been unable to see his only child for more than nine years. Coming late into the marriage of him and his wife, he last saw his daughter when she was 10 years old.
Unhappy Aboo said: “Now, my daughter is of marriageable age and my wife is not well either.”
Though the Indian embassy has written to the company representing the building owner begging for mercy, no headway has been made so far.
“I’m 61 and unable to render any job because of my poor health,” said the hapless expatriate.
Now Aboo is counting on the help of his legal representative.
He explained: “The lawyer said he was confident of settling the case with the landlord for QR25,000. He understands my poor financial condition and promises to convince the building owner.”
However, even if the lawyer is successful, Aboo is unsure how he can gather the rest of the cash owed. As a last resort, he has now made an emotional appeal to this newspaper, asking for sympathetic readers to help him get home.
A couple of community activists have also expressed an interest in trying to help Aboo.
“However, we are clueless as to how to take a lead,” said one of them, who has been associated with a number of humanitarian issues in the recent past.
The Opposition leader of the Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy had recently come forward to give a helping hand to a Keralite youth, who was detained in a Kuwaiti jail for the murder of one of his colleagues from Andhra Pradesh. Through his good offices with some resourceful non-resident Keralites (NRKs) in Kuwait, Chandy managed to raise the equivalent of about QR100,000 to be paid as blood money to the kith and kin of the victim, living in Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh.
“Should we seek a similar intervention from someone of his stature to raise enough money to settle the Doha-based Keralite’s outstanding dues?” asked another social activist.
Source: Gulf-times.com
Speed Comments:
I am ready to take up this Challenge with the help of QLers in this Charity Cause in coordination with Qatar Red Crescent ....
I need only 200 Volunteers to come forward and donate QR. 100/- to help this needy man to see his family back home. Rest of the balance amount I will donate through my other resources. Please reply to me URGENTLY. If someone cannot afford QR. 100/- He can still donate as per his wish.
As you all know that QL Volunteer Group is not a registered Charity Group, therefore we don't accept any cash amount. You all will pay this donation to Qatar Red Crescent Society and you will receive a receipt for your donation. Once I see a good response from Good Heart Qlers only then I will contact 'QRCS' for the collections.
Lets together make difference in someone's life :-)
Join QLVG: http://www.qatarliving.com/group/qatar-living-volunteers
God Bless You All.
drop it at Patatas Cafe
at AL Sadd
on Wednesday
between 1700 and 1900 hours .. thanks
_______________________________________________________
''BELOW THREAD NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE''
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/146167#comment-505112
Can somebody tell em how to giv emoney for this purpose. Pls drop me an email. I wana donate some as well
ciao
See you all there.
Call me Maninibat!
Just incase if some of you still visit this thread please note our Donation Collection point as follows:
Venue: Patata's Coffee Shop & Restaurant, (Just a few blocks pass Hardees, Al Sadd - on the way towards Ramada Signal from Al Sadd Signal)
Day: Monday ( 21.07.2008 )
&
Wednesday ( 23.07.2008)
Time: 1700hrs - 1900hrs (5pm - 7pm)
You may follow the link to the thread posted by Ksarat16 above.
Together we can make difference in someone's life !!!
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The thread has been posted for Coffee and Collection for Tomorrow Monday and Wednesday... (21.07. 2008 * 23.07.2008)
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/147927
till then, i'll stay tune:)))
"APPEARANCE IS REALITY FOR ME and FAKERY TO YOU!" ;)
I will gladly donate - let me know when and where.
Also I will send email to all QLVG members.
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where, when, who and how it will be collected from us?
please tell me the place..
SBR
I like you idea .... it is a good suggestion :-)
xxxxxx
Arien said I mean something like this ..check ma signature here... ...
...........................
''BELOW THREAD NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE''
http://www.qatarlivi...
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Pls move to new thread : http://www.qatarliving.com/node/147258
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Stranded man gets aid pledge to settle debts
Published: Sunday, 20 July, 2008, 12:28 AM Doha Time
By Ramesh Mathew
Two Indian businessmen have agreed to pay the money required to settle the debts of P Aboo, an Indian national who has been stranded in Qatar for nine years as he has not been able to clear rent arrears amounting to about QR200,000.
Though Aboo has repaid over QR150,000 by doing odd jobs after his restaurant folded in 2001, he still owes his building owner about QR40,000.
Responding to Aboo’s story published in Gulf Times, managing director of Consilium Qatar M Sivasankar yesterday promised QR15,000 while chairman of Nasser al-Hajri Trading and Contracting Company Ravi Pillai pledged QR10,000.
According to sources, the lawyer of the landlord has agreed to settle the matter if Aboo paid QR25,000.
The donors have intimated their decision to Indian Nationals Abroad president Nizar Kochery and urged him to co-ordinate the matter with concerned parties.
“The money will be handed over to Indian Ambassador George Joseph in a day or two,” Kochery told Gulf Times.
Lauding all who came forward to help Aboo, the ambassador in a mail to this newspaper said: “Once again, the Indian community in Qatar rose to the occasion for helping a needy brother. It is heart-warming indeed to see how people reacted in their own ways, doing the best each one can….. Some write…, some share their concern with others … while some others come to their aid…
“This enormous fund of goodwill towards others is the distinguishing trait of our community in Qatar. No one has yet invented a yardstick to measure concern.”
Reacting to the Gulf Times report, some other Indians, including Indian Community Benevolent Fund (ICBF) president Dr Mohan Thomas have agreed to provide Aboo with financial assistance. Nilafour Ghassain, a bank official too has expressed her desire to help the stranded man.
The 61-year-old Aboo, who had to close down his restaurant in 2001 after he suffered huge losses, has been doing all kinds of odd jobs to repay his rental arrears, which at one time stood close to QR200,000.
Aboo is a native of Chavakkad in Kerala’s Thrissur district. He has a wife and a 19-year-old daughter back home.
help. Not hand outs to return home. He has done the honourable thing, not thieveing away in the dark of the night.
I consider it my duty to help him, need not necessarily be your sentiment. But i really think that 'handouts' is a rather harsh word.
Oh ok, very good........so, he needs handouts to help him stay above board then?...
This man had a business which went down the drain. But instead of turning around and fleeing, he did the honourable thing, stayed back and worked hard to pay back every penny he owes.
And when a stage came when he was no longer able to do so (coz he was getting old and a lil sightless), he seeked help. And there were a hundred people who heard his call.
Now THAT, is the gist.
Welcome back to QL!
sorry, for want of sounding harsh here, this man has a business which has gone down the drain and people are now helping him out with money? Have I got the gist here?
to you but count me in
I cannot disclose their names without their permission... i can say we have more the 60 volunteers confirmed.
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37... and still counting...
I hate thid fecker 'Prominent Businessman' !!!
Agree with my fangs in his neck...but i'll not touch the blood!
Happy to contribute..............count me in!
Speed count me in..too
But we are still very few.....pales in comparison to the amount the guy raised in 9yrs!!!
So the receipts are going to be on QL Id or what...?
Don't get Dracula started on blood sucking...
***************************************
Build a man a fire and he will be warm
for a day; set a man on fire and he
will be warm the rest of his life.
***************************************
I know it is a huge amount but since the man was honest and he proved that with his hard work he paid off almost QR. 175,000/- in 9 yrs now why he cannot wave off QR 25,000/- after all he is an old and sick man !
I am sure for so called 'Prominent Businessman' it was matter of seconds to let this poor man free long back but why he kept him God knows better !
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Nelson Mandela: "Rich should help the poor"
July 18, 2008
http://www.weneedtostop.com/2008/07/nelson-mandela-rich-should-hel.html
still if the money is settelled by India Embassy, we will donate to cover for his Daughter Marriage and wife medical expenses
:-)
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Home:Qatar
Individuals, groups offer to help stranded expatPublished: Saturday, 19 July, 2008, 12:22 AM Doha Time
By Ramesh Mathew
A NUMBER of people and organisations have come forward to help P Aboo, an Indian expatriate who has spent the past seven years trying to pay back QR200,000 in rent arrears, after his plight was published in Gulf Times yesterday.
Reacting to the report, many members of the Indian community expressed a desire to contribute to any fund set up to pay Aboo’s outstanding arrears of QR40,000 and send him home at the earliest.
Aboo had run up the arrears while managing a restaurant in Fariq bin Mahmood. The restaurant was closed in 2001. Following a legal battle with his landlord, Aboo was ordered to clear his debts before he left Qatar. He said he had so far repaid about QR150,000 to the building owner by doing odd jobs.
The 61-year old has not seen his family for more than nine years. He last saw his only daughter when she was 10 years old. The daughter, he said, is now of marriageable age and is staying with her mother, who is not keeping well these days.
Indian Community Benevolent Fund (ICBF) president Dr Mohan Thomas said he was only too happy to help Aboo go home. “In my personal capacity, I made some inquiries and it was found that the person to whom Aboo owed the money is presently out of the country and will be coming back shortly,” he said.
Dr Thomas has also agreed to speak directly to the person, who is a prominent Qatari businessman.
As the first step to back the initiative, Dr Thomas announced a personal contribution. He said those interested in helping Aboo reach home could make their contributions directly to the ICBF help desk at the Indian embassy.
He said receipts would be issued for all donations.
A representative of a prominent business group has also offered to help Aboo. “I can understand that the poor man has suffered more than enough,” he said.
An Indian woman who works for a bank, also offered to help Aboo. “I could well gauge the predicament of a poor man, who has been away from his dear and near ones for so many years,” she said.
Representatives of at least three expatriate forums offered to help. An office-bearer of Friends of Thrissur (FoT) said its members would work out a plan to send Aboo home. “Aboo, who happens to be from Thrissur district in Kerala, may be known to some of our members but no one had brought the issue to our attention until yesterday,” he said.
Members of qatar living.com also have launched a campaign to send the stranded Indian home.
Meanwhile, an Indian embassy official said yesterday that the mission would be talking directly to the lawyer, who had reportedly agreed to help Aboo out by settling the case with the landlord for QR25,000.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=230810&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16
It is really great to see so many kind heart people on QL ....
Also my email and PM is flooded with people request :-)
Allah (GOD) Bless You All for your generosity and support as usual.
You guys Rock ...
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Today I spoke to one of the representative from Qatar Red Crescent and they told me to send them a fax tomorrow morning (they are closed today) after receiving my fax they will come back to me.
Also I spoke to Gulftime to get more details about (Mr. Abboo) I was told that the contact person is off today and she will contact me tomorrow only.
Therefore, I am not in position to give you clear picture of collection point today, I suggest you all wait till tomorrow afternoon, Inshah'Allah I will come back with positive news.
Till then keep it up the good work :-)
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for the donation.
Waalaikum wassalam! and good pm too.
Good pm Qler's!
I am in , please forard the details for the collection.
Joe
Tell me when we have to give money and where is Red Cresent office...need details please...
I really hope you guys come and give the money red crescent. God Bless you all.
Live, Laugh, Love and Get Laid.
count me in. your idea is great.
please count me in too,thanks
*** Light travels faster than sound. That's why most people appear bright until they open their mouths.
just keep everybody posted!!!!!!!!!!
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
...........................
''BELOW THREAD NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE''
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/146167#comment-505112
Guess quite few are missing to see the thread. All depends on how they browse..
Why dont we all have the link in our signature so it gets spread wherever we post????????????
x 2 (hubby and myself). Speed, may you be be blessed.
27 too, speed, u have a heart of gold...
26th is here ;)
....let me know where & how to contribute since am not a regular in this site.
25 down, 175 to go...
Figured this would get it back to the top of the list.
***************************************
Build a man a fire and he will be warm
for a day; set a man on fire and he
will be warm the rest of his life.
***************************************
25 ppl so far... we need more.. guess we will have to wait for the qlers after the weekend when they wud check from their office..
just let me know where and when
Speed, I actually stumbled upon this forum by coincidence. I must say that you are doing such an honourable job....Please count me in and let me know wheer and when I can pass the cash. May Allah bless you and your family.
IAM EVER READY TO HELP ...PLS LEMME KNOW WEN TO COME TO QRCS - ADDRESS ????????????
God bless you.
BTW, wish you happy hoildays wherever you are ;-)
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I will let you all know by tomorrow afternoon, i just came from QRC and found that they are closed today. I will pay a visit tomorrow morning again.
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i would also like to contribute.plzz inform further details
Naye dost banane ki aadat hain hume, Apni alag pehchan banane ke aadat hain hume,Chahe koi kitna bhi zakhm de, Phir bhi muskurane ke aadat hain hume
in!
speed, just pm me. Tnx!
Yeah just need a account or something to pay into!!! x
money is money. I am sure it will go to a good cause. x
and me though only have £££££££!!!!
come on people we need your care and help here
Live, Laugh, Love and Get Laid.
Speed.. Saw thread late/... I am in , let me know how to contribute.
i know speed ... :-) x
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Thanks for explaining Greeker. I am up to help this guy. But i still cant figure it out how it works. Now i am all clear. Speed doing the right thing for not handling the cash in person i guess.
Thumb up for you Speed ... i really admire with what you doing.
That is exactly why Speed said that he would collect the money ONLY through Qatar red Crescent. When you give the money to them, they give you back a receipt saying "received so much money towards fund for so and so," in this case, the person who wants to go back home.
Giving the money through red Crescent makes it much more transparent. you can be SURE that the money will reach the right place. Speed is doing the right thing. I have seen many cases where beautiful friendships were broken up when it came to issues of money. I wouldnt want that to happen here in QLVG.
Its a great initiative with its head in the right place. That is exactly how it should be. My admiration for you grows by the second, Speed.
Same old same old ... :-) Glad to know you are back. xxx
I know been a little busy!!! s you can tell i am not anymore!!!
How are you?
Sammie ... been centuries since you posting again on QL.
Yeah how do we know it is for real?
Speed ... how can we know that the money will go directly to this guy?
QLVG can be like a group of friends who want to help...u think individual donations will not be accepted?
registered Charity Group in Doha, therefore we have to use QRC or anyother registered Charity Organization for this purpose.
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I will update you all by Sunday morning about the collection point date and time.
As i mentioned above , please join QLVG so that you don't miss our communications thru emails.
http://www.qatarliving.com/group/qatar-living-volunteers
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Speed..Jazak Allah Khair
Only Allah can reward you for the effort you are putting in....
May you contiue with this hard work...
Count me in..
i will also try to get something from my cicle of friends and relatives..
take care friend....
____________________________________________________
Have Courage To Live.
Anyone Can Die.
count me in too..
I am very new to Doha but would love to help. If someone can get me directions to a meeting point I would be happy to donate to the cause.
***************************************
Build a man a fire and he will be warm
for a day; set a man on fire and he
will be warm the rest of his life.
***************************************
1.speed
2.dragonfly
3.pwb78
4.formatted soul
5.mollyfromcanada
6.hened
7.azilana7037
8.greeker
9.dracula
10.vegas
11.owen
12.aisha taweela
13.novita77
14.heroo-yuy2
15.King Edshel
16.Harsha
16 and counting.. need 184 more...
Every person when saying yes.. add the sl. no before ur name.. i.e. d next guy says 17. yes.. and so on...
Speed... I am in.. But i suggest we collect it and handover it ourself... I mean we can give directly right.. why do we need QRC for that????
try to see if i can collect from more friends around .. So sad to know that he wasted 9 years of his life doing that, no help from his family, his embassy, or even the one who wants his money back from him ... Shame on humanity :(
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. (Gautama Buddha)
Seems fair to me. could give it a try...just tell me how to give it...
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
and me...
I am here & count me in
Aisha-Taweela
i posted my intent on the QLVG group... :)
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
You can't teach experience
speed, count on me also!
by the way some new QL members are also coming forward and i am receiving PMs from them.
I will let you all know thru email and will update on froum too by Sunday 20.07.08 AM.
Those who has not joined QLVG please join now so that you don't miss our email. Also you will receive QLVG activities thru email time by time.
http://www.qatarliving.com/group/qatar-living-volunteers
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SPEED: I guess for this CAUSE, we need not send any PM/emails as HELP from the QL community. As most of the active members are out of town, we need all the help we could get for THIS MAN.
DRAGONFLY212: I'm in between JOBs right now and hopefully, if all will go well for the next couple of months...i will go home to see my kids sometime October this year...insha'allah
also as mentioned i will contact QRCS tomorrow morning for the acceptance of donations from Qlers to help Mr. Abboo leave doha and join his family in India ... or else we have other registered Charity Organizations whom we can approach anytime.
Keep up the good work guys :-)
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just wait till Sunday and keep checking your email/ PMs or keep reading this thread for updates ;-)
Only Qlers are the one Community who always makes difference, others too but still QL rocks !
God Bless :-)
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yeah am to that idea azzy... and you should find your time to visit your lovely children soon. forget about Doha for awhile and try to see them gal.
Live, Laugh, Love and Get Laid.
just a suggestion though....
let's select the date and time for handover the money. we wait for you speed
Live, Laugh, Love and Get Laid.
so sorry speed!!! i am not in doha,,, i just fly to dubai yesterday... cannot help this time...
i know how he feels...i haven't seen my kids and mom in 2 years myself.
I'll help
Speed, i will call you later today to fix a meetup.
who has sent me PMs.
I am currently listing down your names and hopefully i will sent you all PM/ email once we decide to collect the money thru QRCS.
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COUNT ME IN .HAPPY 2 HELP .INFORM THE DATE
happy to contribute - poor dear man working so hard in such a honourable way. Please count me in.
i will donate .....speed paaji you are doing a great thing..God bless you and your family..
yes all good with me pwb78, just waiting for the news when we can shifted to another country. I guess i will see you soon with your lil angel when we handover the money. We wait for your commando Speed Pa Ji
Live, Laugh, Love and Get Laid.
Thanks Speed. Will donate on Sunday or so.
Hey dragonfly - kids are good. :) Running circles around me. Hope you are doing well too.
*************************************
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
Good bless you with your good kind heart Speed. Hi pwb78, hows your lil angel doing???
Live, Laugh, Love and Get Laid.
they will provide you with the official receipt for this purpose only. But as I mentioned above that I need to inform them in advance which i will do it tomorrow ...
All the money collected from Qlers will go to help this needy person (Abboo) only.
I will also officially announce how much Qlers contributed in the end !
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So we just give the money to QRCS and tell them it is for this man? They will write that on the receipt?
*************************************
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
I will keep this thread up for 3 - 4 days only after that I will arrange a collection point (hopefully in Qatar Red Crescent Society office, Doha) once i get their approval and response from all the kind people...
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Am up for it Speed. Let me know when I can give you the money.
Live, Laugh, Love and Get Laid.