Dr Rabeeullah receives ‘Pravasi Ratna Award’

Manama : Prominent Gulf-based businessman and Chairman of Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group Dr KT Rabeeullah has received the prestigious “Pravasi Ratna Award” instituted by Manchester-based Anand TV for his outstanding contributions to community welfare and humanitarian initiatives.

He received the award from famous Indian film star Mammooty at Europe’s first ever Malayalam Movie Award Show held in Manchester, UK yesterday.

Dr Rabeeullah is well known for his philanthropic activities. The much-acclaimed pension scheme, which has been implemented at his village is the finest example for this. He has been a source of livelihood for several in his native village of East Kodur in Malappuram district, in the Southern Indian state of Kerala. 

He has offered free auto rickshaws to many and has also supported numerous deprived students by sponsoring their fees and scholarships.

Dr Rabeeullah has won many accolades during the three-decade long services in the social and charitable fields. In 2013, he was conferred with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the highest honour accorded to overseas Indians by the Indian government.

He has recently started a charity initiative worth US$1.5 million to be distributed within three years to the needy and destitute families. Earlier this month, he extended help for the family of Jisha, a law student, who was brutally murdered in Perumbavoor, Kerala. He offered the victim’s mother five cents of land to construct a house and BD1,800.

 Last month, Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Group disbursed Rs50,000 (BD300) each to the families of those killed in the fireworks accident at the Puttingal Temple in Paravur, Kerala. The group also provided drinking water for the residents near the Puttingal temple in the wake of the tragedy. 

He also offered jobs to qualified hands from the family members of the deceased at the Group’s establishments across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

 He has been instrumental in building closer links between India, the diaspora and their governments for the welfare of the local Indian community.