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December 10, 2007
An Interview with Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari,, President, Kayalpatnam Welfare Association, UAE and
Executive Director, ETA Zenath
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Kayalpatnam.com>When and how did Kayal Welfare Association (KWA), Dubai come about?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>Our association was founded in 1988 at the residence of Mr. V.S.A.Dawood
Haji and our services became active and vigorous after our town faced some communal violence in
September 1992 in which we faced serious threat to the then existing religious harmony
Kayalpatnam.com>What geographical area is covered by KWA? Is it the whole of UAE?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>Yes. Our members are from all over UAE. Most of them are from Dubai and Abu
Dhabi
Kayalpatnam.com>How many expatriates from Kayalpatnam live and work in the UAE?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>Approximately 500
Kayalpatnam.com>How many members does KWA have?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>415 General Body Members
Kayalpatnam.com>How is KWA administratively structured?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>Our association consists of President, 3 Vice Presidents, General Secretary, 2 Joint
Secretaries, Treasurer and other 30 executive members
Kayalpatnam.com>How does KWA fund its projects? Is it only through the membership fee
collected? What amount is charged as the membership fee?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>Yes, it is mainly by our members’ monthly subscription - ranging between Dirhams 15
and 100. . Moreover - our association’s well wishers and philanthropists also financially help our
projects and towards the uplifting of our community
Kayalpatnam.com>How often does KWA's General Body and Executive Committee meet?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>The General Bbody will meet once a year - whereas the Executive Committee
meets monthly. Occasionally, we also have get-together apart from the general body meeting
Kayalpatnam.com>What are the social areas that KWA addresses?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>Generally supports with Educational Sponsorship for Professional, Technical & Social
Studies (Teacher, Lab Technician, nursing etc), School Construction Aid, Books Aid, Orphanage, Medical Aid &
KMT Zakath fund, Loan for Kayal Baithulmals etc as we all know these are the basic needs of our community
Kayalpatnam.com>What according to you are the major problems facing Kayalpatnam - that require urgent
attention?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>Though the level of education has remarkably improved among both the sexes, there
is a need for an effective educational counseling to students in the higher secondary grade. There is no
sincere attempt so far to create interest among the students for pursuing courses other than Engineering
and medicine, such as diploma and ITI courses which are affordable to those not-so-fortunate students to
get into professional courses.
From the perspective of employment, there is no career guidance to graduates freshly passing out of
universities - whereas those students who are lucky enough to study at prestigious institutions in metros
are being recruited for employment from their campus itself even by overseas organisations. Also there is a
need to develop cottage and small-scale industries to offer employment to the unfortunate members of the
society both from men and women.
From the religious perspective, there is lack of guidance to parents as to how to inculcate and maintain
a balance in their children between worldly and religious education
Kayalpatnam.com>Are you satisfied with the way Kayal organisations - in India as well as overseas -
are functioning?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>Alhamdhulillah, Of course I am very much satisfied with their services. Recently,
I came to know that our brothers have formed a new association in Sri Lanka for the welfare of our town and
similarly in Doha as well
Kayalpatnam.com>Do you feel there is scope for various Kayal organisations to co-ordinate
their work together, taking on some projects jointly?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>Yes - through a central coordination office to be based in kayalpatnam
Kayalpatnam.com>As someone at the helm of affairs of a leading company in the UAE, what do you foresee
as hot and emerging career opportunities (that Kayal youth should aim for) in the booming Middle-East ?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>There is ample scope for employment in the new fields such as Petroleum
engineering, Petro-chemical engineering, Bio-technology, Environmental engineering, Marine and Aviation
Kayalpatnam.com>Roughly how many people from Kayalpatnam does ETA employ in the Middle-East?
Mr.J.S.A. Bukhari>We do not have specific figures about the strength of Kayalites employed by ETA in
the Middle East. However, in UAE, we have about 150 Kayalites employed by ETA
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