ICBF is one of the three apex bodies under the aegis of Indian Embassy of Qatar apart from Indian Cultural Center (ICC) and Indian Professional Business Network (IBPN) carrying out its task completely selfless, non-profit oriented and philanthropic manner to help generally the needy and the working class from the community.
Right from providing financial assistance to low paid workers, ration to less privileged workers in Doha, medical assistance for emergency care, etc., Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), has been working towards the upliftment of the Indian expatriate community in Doha, Qatar.
Mr P N Baburajan, President, ICBF
Speaking to Crowdteck.com, Mr P N Baburajan, President, ICBF informs,” We provide help to low paid workers, people who have not been paid by their companies for a long time or workers who have been sick. We help with a nominal amount. We also assist financially to send mortals of an unprecedented death of a person and an accompanying member.”
ICBF also helps people in need of emergency medical treatment who do not have a health card. It also conducts 5-6 medical camps per year at different locations across Qatar like Al-Khor, Wakrah, industrial areas, etc. these camps undertake all basic testing such as oral hygiene, BP, Cholesterol, diabetes, etc. “Our focus is on Preventive Healthcare,” he remarks. “Our main aim is to help Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) cater to a larger population. With 2500 members in Qatar, ICBF is the only quasi-government body in GCC working on such a large scale and capacity,” informs Mr Baburajan.
Talking about funds for running the organization, Baburajan informs, “ICBF conducts two annual commercial evens which are sponsored by corporate honchos in Doha. The International Labour Day and ICBF Day. ICBF registration involves a lifetime membership fee of QAR 300 and during the last year they have added 700 new members. It also accepts individual contribution. This helps cover the operational costs of ICBF. It also celebrates ICBF day honouring and appreciating the financial assistance provided by these selected ICBF members.”
Talking about the future plans, Baburajan informs of setting up a counseling center for differently-abled people. He says, “ICBF is aiming for an institution to help and nurture those underprivileged children from our community under the initiative and support from individuals and corporate Indian community under the guidance and coordination of ICBF.”
ICBF is also planning to set a separate fund collection unit for financially distressed patients to assist them in their repatriation to India for further treatment and medical assistance. It also plans to set up a permanent legal aid service in co-ordination with one of the legal firms in Qatar for low income and domestic paid workers.
Speaking on fund raising he says, “Our plan is to collect funds in Doha and invest it in a budding and promising healthcare startup and in return use their services. Our target is one million QAR. Once we start the fund-raising campaign, people will come forward as the behaviour of people have changed. They have become more charitable with the life span becoming shorter.”
(arshia@crowdteck.com)
