Foundation stone was laid here for “Muskaan”, a home for the blind the deaf at Fatimah Layout in Thannisandra, a developing outskirt of the city on April 19. Being built on a 3,600 sq. feet plot, the school will accommodate and impart skills to the visually challenged, physically disabled and the deaf and dumb children. The facility is being set up by Millat Management Society, Bangalore. On completion it will be a 12,000 sq. ft. The construction work is already under progress. It is already running two children’s home called ‘Apna Ghar’ in Kolar and ‘Apna Ashiyana’ in Bangalore. Besides it has set up ‘Buzurgon Ka Ghar’ (Home for the Aged) in Kolar and a primary and high school.
Unveiling the foundation stone at the construction site, Al-Ameen Movement founder Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Khan said the kind of initiatives taken by Millat management Society serves as an index of the confidence among the new generation of Muslims. He exhorted the youth to take up new ventures and have trust in God. Maulana Hanif Afsar Azeezi, imam of the Beoprian Masjid said the Prophet guided his companions to help the needy and the poor. Maqbool Ahmed Siraj, journalist, said there was need to raise effective social infrastructure for the various sections of the society. He said the Western countries invented Braille system of touch learning, sign language and shorthand etc for the sake of imparting literacy and conversational skill to the blind, deaf and dumb and for speed writing respectively. He cited the example of Dr. Hudson Silva of Sri Lanka who restored vision of lakhs of people all over the world by supplying retina collected from the dead people in his own country.

Prof. Salam Musheer, secretary of the Millat Management Society, said the new facility would enable the various handicapped people to acquire skills and be useful citizens of the country. He said the blind children would be provided a homely shelter and would be imparted mobility with the help of a white cane, daily living skills, counseling and vocational skills. The deaf and dumb children will trained in personal grooming, speech therapy, skills of communication and counseling and various skills.

More information can be had from Prof. Salaam Musheer, Secretary, Millat Management Society of India, Ground Floor-20, Hameedshah Complex, Cubbonpet Main Rd., Bangalore-560002, Phone 080-22111587, 09341220107, email: millatmanagement@yahoo.com

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is contemplating the establishment of an independent and permanent human rights commission. OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu presided over a meeting of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts for the Establishment of an OIC Independent Human Rights Commission at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah. A document prepared by the OIC, detailing the initial stages of the project, was discussed.

The OIC has already carried out extensive studies and made contact with relevant international bodies, such as the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, the Geneva Institute for Human Rights, and the OIC Group at the UN Geneva office. The document contained a broad overview of the components of the planned commission, a description of the nature of its work, appellation, principles, objectives, functions, members, experts, recomme ndations and quorum. Speaking to the media, Ihsanoglu said the prospective establishment of an OIC Permanent Independent Commission on Human Rights is “a most positive development.” He added that the mandate for the establishment of the commission — as provided by the OIC 10-Year Program of Action that was adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Islamic Summit held in Makkah in 2005 — was accorded a statutory status in the new OIC Charter, unanimously approved and entered into force in March 2008.

It appeared as if the whole of Mangalore has erupted in protest against the assassination of veteran human rights advocate Naushad Kashimji. Naushad was murdered on April 8 near his apartment in Falnir area. Naushad was fighting the case of Ras-heed Malbari, who the police allege was an underworld don. The mur-der shocked the City and led to protest from advocates and Mangalore Bar Council.

The protest was organized by Dakshina Kannada Muslim Organizations Federation to condole the death of human rights advocate Naushad and condemn his murder with a five-point resolution. The resolution includes handing over of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the event of police failing to nab the culprits by Thursday April 30.

Mr. K. L. Ashok, general secretary, Karnataka Komu Sauharda Vedike addressing the 8,000 strong gathering in front of the deputy comm-issioner’s offi-ce, said: “The freedom we got in 1947 through a long fight has been lost because of the fascists and rulers in the state as proved by the murder of advocate Naushad”.

Ashok added that the police also treat the minorities in a fascist manner under directions from the government and hence, have a major part in victimizing the minorities.

“Naushad, being a lawyer with knowledge of the facts about such atrocities, fought against the police and became a martyr due to his being brave. He got a death similar to that of Bhagat Singh who fought against the British rulers in India”, said Ashok adding that all human rights activists are in danger.

Ashok also challenged the underworld to come out on the streets in the open and said that making threatening calls and killing in secret and then hiding was a cowardly act.

Umar U H, joint convener of the federation, said, “The days ahead will be full of feelings of betrayal and a great sense of loss. The death of Naushad has caused fear and anger”.

The district president of the Popular Front of India, Anwar Saddat, alleged that some sect-ions of the media as well as the police force were involved in a criminal cons-piracy to tarn-ish the image of Naushad and justify his killing. Recalling a string of police encounters in the recent past, Saddat said that people are losing faith in the police.

The progaramme was arranged in association with more than ten organizations including Popular Front of India, New Age India Forum, Jamath-e-Islami Hind, Seerath Committee, Darimi Association, and other human rights organizations. More than 8,000 people attended the programme.

Organisers planned to take a rally in the city on the same issue but had to cancel it due to denial of perm-ission from police depart-ment.

Earlier on April 13, the Mangalore Bar Association held a huge demonstration before the DC’s office after leading a procession through the city streets. President of the association S. P. Chengappa alleged that there has been an increased threat to the lives of the advocates in the city during the last few months.

People

Ullal (Karnataka): Kannada writer and poet B. M. Idinabba died here on April 11 after a brief illness. He was 89.

Mr. Idinabba was member of the legislative Assembly thrice wining Ullal seat in 1967, 1985 and 1989. A Gandhian, Idnabba held the chairmanship of Kannada Development Authority for three years. He had worked in several newspaper including Prajavani, Udayvani at Mangalore during 60s and 70s. As president of the Dakshina Kannada district Kannada Sahitya Parishath for 12 years, he campaigned for the inclusion of Kasargod in Karnataka. He was conferred several literary awards. His books include six poetry collections, six collections of stories and two children’s books.

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