Testimonials from Lt. Governor, Govt. & Health Officials
Manoj Sinha
Lieutenant Governor
Jammu & Kashmir
I am delighted to know that Ehsaas Trust International “Centre for Research & Development of Education, Social Ethics, Culture and Human Values” is coming up with its annual magazine.
I gather that the organization is working tirelessly in a variety of fields for the welfare and benefit of humanity. It has served the society without any discrimination of caste, creed, color and ethnicity. It has been a great boon for the people, especially underprivileged meritorious students.
The organization has worked hand in hand with the government in the fight against Covid-19. The initiatives and services rendered by the organization have been very significant and of high order. I believe the organization would keep its valuable efforts for the betterment of society going.
I congratulate the organization for its great service and wish them success in all their efforts for personal and professional growth.
Atal Dullo,IAS
Additional Chief Secretary
Jammu & Kashmir
Ehsaas International Trust deserves all the appreciation for working tirelessly and selflessly for helping people in the time of distress especially during Covid-19 outbreak in the valley. They have provided support to the people particularly in the health sector by safety gears for frontline healthcare workers, online Covid awareness to general people, Training of volunteers for homecare of covid-19 patients, providing of oxygen to them and Dial-A-Doctor services. Covid-19 has shown the importance of these trusts who work shoulder to shoulder with the Government. Such initiatives by trusts give satisfaction in serving mankind.
Dr. Shahid Choudhary,IAS
Secretary to Government
Jammu & Kashmir
Ehsaas International Trust deserves to be appreciated for their tireless and selfless working oriented at helping society in hard times especially for their efforts at mitigating Covid-19 pandemic outbreak in the valley. The trust provided support to District Disaster Management Authority Srinagar by providing safety gear for frontline healthcare workers in particular. They also conducted online Covid awareness programs for general masses, trained volunteers for homecare of Covid-19 patients, provided oxygen support to Covid patients and initiated wonderful “Dial A Doctor” Service which limited foot fall in hospitals. Their work proves the importance of similar trusts and Non Governmental Organizations to work in tandem with the Government.
Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmood,IAS
President, Zakat Foundation of India
Former OSD to Prime Minister of India
During 2021 and all subsequent years, God bless Hakim Ilyas and Janab Tabasum Geelani of Ehsaas Trust and all our Kashmiri brethren, other fellow Indians and entire humanity.
Since 2008, Zakat Foundation of India has been working to empower the fellow citizens in Jammu and Kashmir. Our Sir Syed Coaching and Guidance Centre in New-Delhi has so far sponsored the coaching of 153 meritorious boys and girls of J&K to well-prepare for competitive exams like UPSC and J&K PSC. Dozens have thus joined various services like IAS, IPS, IRS, Judiciary and KAS.
During last three years, Zakat Foundation and Ehsaas International have initiated joint projects. About 2 lakh people in the valley are involved in hand spinning and weaving of pashmina. However this cottage industry has been adversely affected since the onset of machines. Through entrepreneurial philanthropy, we are attempting to rehabilitate Pashmina artisans. The spinners and weavers are provided raw materials to manufacture genuine pashmina shawls for which we obtain Government endorsed ‘GI’label’ certifying genuineness of Kashmiri Pashmina’. The product is obtained for sale through e-commerce and then we ensure the well deserved profit share to artisans. Also, ZFI is supporting some other projects taken by Ehsaas Trust like winter coaching centres, hostel facility for students at lucknow and financial support to underprivileged meritorious students.
Besides, like in the rest of India, we have established ‘Mercy Home’ in valley’s downtrodden areas. These are healthcare centres where poor patients avail free medical consultation and medication.
We wish Ehsaas Trust all the best of selfless capacity to continue rendering meaningful service to the society.
FAROOQ WANDROO
British Kashmiri Charitable Foundation (BKCF)
Consultant Hematologist National Health Services
London, England Chairman BKCM
Current COVID-19 pandemic has shaken humanity throughout the world. Kashmir is no exception, but given the already turbulent situation in Kashmir, matters were anticipated to get worse. Hence BKCF was proactive in planning to provide help both to healthcare workers as well the general public. Given the prevailing situation in the valley it is always difficult for Kashmiri diaspora to do any charity work. We are highly thankful to EHSAAS International Charity for collaborating with us in in doing some charity work for the people of Kashmir. We mainly worked with them on following projects.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE Project) we were able to provide PPE to a number of hospitals in the valley including SKIMS, JVC, SMHS Hospital as well district hospitals of mainly north Kashmir like Baramulla, Sopore, Bandipora, Sumbal, Kupwara etc. The volunteers of EHSAAS worked at a phenomenal pace during these difficult circumstances of lockdown and the fragile political and law & order scenario of the valley. They used their own volunteers and ensured PPE kits were handed over to the respective authorities/ local volunteers in an open and transparent manner.
- Food Parcel Project Due to COVID-19 lockdown we were conscious that the economy in the valley will take a worse hit and that common people will suffer due to lockdown. Since EHSAAS already has a running programme of providing food parcels to the needy, BKCF collaborated with them and was able to provide full food packages for hundreds of families in Srinagar, Sopore and Baramulla during the month of April/May 2020.
- Oxygen Concentrators, Pulse Oximeters and N95 Masks. Many moderately symptomatic patients suffer from breathlessness for which they require to be put on oxygen supply which is not possible at home without oxygen concentrators. Few such equipment and 100s of oximeters were purchased and handed over to EHSAAS International so that it can be provided to patients in home care who are in need of it. Staff at healthcare facilities were facing shortage of N95 Masks and lots of medics are getting Covid Positive due to this. We purchased N95 Masks in bulk to provide to healthcare workers. Above all we are highly thankful to the chief executive and other volunteers of EHSAAS International for being forthcoming, open and transparent in financial matters. They are no doubt highly learned people and humble in their attitude. We pray to Almighty to give us more opportunity to continue to work with Ehsaas International in future.
SHUJA YOUSUF
Gastroenterologist
United States of America, EMS Project KASHMER
Covid 19 pandemic has been a challenge to healthcare systems across the world and has seen the most advanced systems crumble. It has created a tsunami like effect in all aspects of human life. Through this calamity non-profit organizations world over have been pivotal in helping the healthcare facilities with their response to COVID. KASHMER(Kashmiri American Society for Healthcare, Medical Education and Research) is a US based healthcare organization primarily working towards improving healthcare in underdeveloped areas like Kashmir. We currently run two advanced care ambulances as part of our 24/7 EMS service in Kashmir along with a number of other projects in collaboration with local partners. COVID SARS 2 has tested the capability of the best facilities in the most developed countries like the USA. It has been a challenge for healthcare workers on front lines including EMS services, part of which was a shortage of PPE in the world’s most developed nation. Compare this to the areas like Kashmir in the subcontinent that already have a lot of challenges on the system and the reason for worry and alarm is understandable. We were naturally concerned about the safety of our EMS staff. This is when we heard and read about the initiative of Ehsaas International to procure PPE for healthcare providers in Kashmir. Several of our team members have personally known about Ehsaas team for the past several years and their involvement in several social projects. Ehsaas took it on themselves to procure and provide PPE for healthcare providers in Kashmir. Ehsaas acted as a beacon of hope in the face of chaos, panic and anxiety in the public. It provided much needed PPE which was locally produced and constantly improved based on expert opinions as per Ehsaas. We are really indebted and grateful to Ehsaas International for this humanitarian and entrepreneurial work. This includes providing our EMS team much needed PPE kits at a time when it was hard to lay hands on adequate PPE. Ehsaas has a very dedicated and motivated team who work tirelessly to keep healthcare providers safe. We salute the selfless, dedicated and motivated staff of Ehsaas.
SHAHEEN SHOHRA
Consultant Psychiatrist
NHS united Kingdom
ATHWAS, United Kingdom
As the world was affected by pandemic Covid-19 in 2020, a group of British Kashmiris ‘ATHWAS’ came together to help and support to help people back home in Kashmir. We did some ground work and decided three local not-for-profit organizations based in Kashmir. Ehsaas International was one of the charity organization that we chose for being a non-political, social organization that worked for the benefit of local Kashmiris Ehsaas u holds the principles of humanity care and respect for all which was in tune with the core values of Athwas, UK. As a link person from Athwas, I communicated regularly with Hakim Mohammad Ilyas, General Secretary of Ehsaas, I found Ilyas extremely helpful, reliable and very knowledgeable with regards to the prevailing situation in Kashmir and the clarity around needs of Common people. We therefore, identified some priority areas which we worked together on and used the donations towards monthly food and ration kits to poor and needy families , free hot meals to attendants of patients from far fling areas admitted in various Srinagar hospitals and in procurement of Oxygen Concentrators. We continue to explore areas of opportunities for empowerment of able but rather needy and highly motivated young Kashmiris to help them become self-reliant. Since our work with Ehsaas through our Covid-19 Fundraiser, we have also come to know about the main work Ehsaas does for promotion of social reformers and education development of Kashmiris which is very impressive .We thank Ehsaas International, their Chairman Syed Tabasum Gelani, General Secretary , Mohammad Ilyas and their dedicated team of volunteers for their productice collaboration with Athwas , UK and their amazing work for people of Kashmir.
Dr. Ashiq Rashid Mir
Surveillance officer (WHO)
World Health Organisation India
My introduction to Ehsaas international happened when the pandemic had just started to create havoc and Health Care Workers were exposed because of the scarcity of PPE kits, Their initiative to provide locally made PPEs of Standard quality in a short period provide locally made PPEs of standard quality in a short period provided the short in the arm for front line workers. Awareness generation videos by specialists form around the world followed by Tele-consultations which keep the people . Collaborative efforts with other organisations like District legal cell to provide awareness of the right of children in the orphanage and other similar programs gave insight into the the multidimensional and society oriented aspect of Ehsaas international only to grow further with the prayers of millions who have benefited directly or indirectly with the contribution form Ehsaas International . I can only see it make more difference ot the lives of people who need it more.
SYED MOHAMMAD FAZLULLAH, IAS
Former Commissioner Secretary
to Government of J&K
The Ehsaas Trust International, has surfaced on the scene afresh with the trusteeship of Hakim Mohammad Ilyas and Syed Tabasum Geelani. I have had an encouraging and palatable experience with them recently when I had a tryst with COVID-19 unfortunately. After my discharge from the hospital this organization helped me handsomely with keeping available their Oxygen Concentrator at home for uplifting my oxygen saturation which is itself a medicine from the view point of this science.
I knew little before that about the Ehsaas International as to how righteous this organisation is, who have dedicated themselves to the divine cause by taking a leap in assisting the suffering humanity globally. It was edifying that the organization has well-conceived the help of mankind in the field of education, career establishment, natural calamities, the balming of the wounds of the diseased, the disaster management and unfortunate catastrophes.
The Ehsaas has hallucinated to observe the suffering lot spreading their smiles with the tool of getting their miseries alleviated. It is indeed a herculean task involving the dedicated minds with their personal freedom, financial strength, physical endeavour and expenditure of their human resources, but determination is present in a confident mind and accomplishment of challenging jobs is imminent.
The conception of divinity in the program is expressed with firm belief. In that the trusties have imagined what divine commands are, to come forward to rescue of the suffering humanity.
It is obvious that the entire world is confronting terrible challenges, esp. the harshest pandemic at the moment. We, being the part of the world can’t escape from this living inferno. Kashmir has suffered on numerous accounts of crises. The present challenge is a formidable spectre to our society. It has already taken a considerable toll of lives and thousands are either suffering silently or actually landing in the hospitals for treatment and salvation from these jaws of peril to their lives. While the esteemed lot of our doctors and paramedics are doing their best to save the humanity to bag the award of Allah who says in the Holy Quran: “… and who saves the life of the human being, equals to saying the entire humanity” – we are indeed in need of other warriors also to cater to the hunger of the sufferers.
The NGOs, social organisations, many logistically helping hands are obvious in the prism of requirement. Our brothers and sisters busy in this godly work are an asset to the community, and we believe that conscience is still alive. So is the case of the Ehsaas for whom I have the love, faith, and profound regard that they have dedicated themselves to a great cause.
The following programmes such as project rebuilding Kashmir, Ramzan feed the poor program, scholarship initiative, marriage of poor/orphan girls, emergency relief work, to name a few, are extremely impressive endeavours of the organisations . All this is not penned down for having benefitted from the nice gesture of the Ehsaas but appreciating a heavenly colour of a kaleidoscope. I wish every step a spectacular success to the Ehsaas Trust and its trustees.