J&K Yateem Foundation programme;‘Credibility, transparency & selflessness basic tenets to serve humanity’

Srinagar, Sep 10: The speakers at the J&K Yateem Foundation’s three-day capacity-building programme in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district urged the volunteers to adopt innovative and modern methodologies in the field of social service to meet the latest challenges in the field.
They said credibility, transparency, accountability, sincerity, wisdom and selflessness are the basic tenets to serve humanity. “The volunteers should learn and equip themselves with the knowledge, methodologies and technologies to cope up with the emerging contemporary challenges, issues and problems in the social service sector,” they said.
The programme, as per the JKYF statement issued here, was organised to sensitise and inculcate understanding of basic tenets of social service and build comprehensive capacity among volunteers. The theme of the programme was ‘Social Service: Credibility, Transparency & Accountability’.
Addressing the gathering of about 150 senior volunteers from various parts of J&K including far flung and hilly districts like Poonch, Rajouri and Doda, the speakers appreciated the “sincere spirit of volunteers”. They urged the participants to be proactive in building their capacities as volunteers to help the poorest among the poor and needy in a coordinated and professional manner.
Noted columnist and author Dr Maroof Shah in his speech pointed out that Yateem Foundation should revisit its welfare policies to take on the emerging challenges. He advocated new rehabilitation models to make the deserving persons self-reliant. He enjoined upon JKYF to establish micro business units for the widows and destitute.
Joint Director Central Bureau of Communications (CBC), J&K and Ladakh Ghulam Abbas (IIS) called for sincerity, honesty, truthfulness and uprightness among volunteers. He urged the volunteers to guide disadvantaged sections of society to take full advantage of the government welfare schemes.
A panel discussion on the theme ‘Role of NGOs to counter social evils’ was held in which Dr Maroof Shah, Prof Manzoor Rehman, Nissarul Haq, Javaid Jawad and Dr Tariq Ahmad Malik participated. Mohammad Amin Bhat moderated the discussion.
Former Income Tax Officer Shabir Ahmad Handoo gave a detailed account of ways and means for Zakat collection and the methodology to spend it for better results. He asserted that a Special Zakat Fund should be raised to help out the individuals trapped in the debt.
Ex-ADDC Shiekh Abdul Hamid (KAS) pitched for reaching out to all the vulnerable sections of society irrespective of creed, caste, colour, religion and race. Adil Farooq and Ulfat Jan of the Human Welfare Voluntary Organisation (HWVO) spoke on the need for psycho-education in childcare institutions and said the orphanages should have the feeling and ambience of normal homes.
Medical Professional Waseem Farooq spoke on the theme ‘First Aid Training’ and shared relevant tips to deal with any emergency while undertaking social service activities, particularly during disaster management situations.
District Representative Pulwama, Mohammad Amin Bhat in his speech shared some painful stories of drug addicts and stressed the need to tackle the issue head-on in respective areas.
Senior volunteer Mahmood-ur-Reyaz while speaking on the theme ‘Social Service in Islamic Prospective’ said the holy Quran is replete with the teachings that enjoin upon its followers to work for the weaker sections of society.
Senior volunteer Nisar ul Haq spoke on the theme ‘Begging: Its causes and remedies’. He invoked the holy Quran and the sayings of the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), saying, “Islam completely denounces the practice of begging.” He enjoined the volunteers to encourage skill development to curb the menace of begging.
Programme Executive Press & PR Division Javaid Jawad emphasised the importance of social media in disseminating the message of social service work among cross sections of people.
Senior physical education teacher Mohammad Sultan from district Baramulla conducted the physical exercise sessions of students and participants during the three-day programme. District Secretary Shopian Rafiq Ahmad Mir spoke on the ‘Etiquettes of Gatherings’. He advised all the participants to follow the calendar of activities in letter and spirit.
General Secretary Yateem Foundation Mohammad Yaqoob Reshi in his welcome address asked the volunteers to follow the organisational discipline in letter and spirit in their day-to-day activities.