Delhi/Jammu, June, 2021: With the second wave of Covid-19 wreaking havoc across the nation, the Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA) and Kakini Building Humanity Trust have come together to provide aid in the form of life-saving oxygen concentrators, cylinders, and Covid-19 protection kits.
The end of April 2021 saw a humanitarian crisis develop in Jammu and Delhi-NCR with hospitals running out of beds, ambulances, and precious oxygen resources. The Kashmiri Overseas Association, a non-profit socio-cultural organisation, serves the purpose of protecting and preserving Kashmiri heritage, and providing financial aid to the needy. Partnering with KOA, the Kakini Building Humanity Trust is a New Delhi-based NGO focusing on education, disaster management, healthcare, and other segments.
Coming together during the time of an unprecedented rise in Covid-19 cases, KOA supplied 315 oxygen concentrators to organisations in Jammu, Delhi, and the rest of India, through Kakini. Along with concentrators, 5,000 Covid-19 protection kits were prepared by Kakini and distributed all over Jammu and Delhi.
KOA and Kakini set and met a list of goals to help combat Covid-19. These included setting up Covid response teams in Jammu and Delhi, making oxygen cylinders and concentrators available for emergency use, Supporting Covid centres in SJM Hospital, Swami Nundlal Bub Hospital, and Medichek Hospital Vitasta and Shriya Bhat Hospital at Jammu, offering 24×7 online doctor consultation services, creating teams to help refill oxygen cylinders, for emergency shifting of devices, and to meet the needs of the elderly.
Covid-19 protection kits by the hundreds have been prepared and distributed by the partners. More than 300 kits have been supplied in Delhi on a daily basis. These kits consisted of 10 N-95 masks, sanitisers, Vitamin C, Zinc, one oximeter, one thermometer, and a face shield.
Mrs Archina , President KOA, commented, “The Kashmiri Overseas Association has been working since last 30 years in various sectors like health, education and culture. We have been helping people in all ways possible during this pandemic. In Kakini, we have found a reliable partner who can channelize our intentions to execute our plans for healthcare and disaster management in India. To assist the people that were struggling to get the right assistance KOA is establishing a dedicated 24X7 emergency helpline number”.
Anyone needing to consultation or a second opinion could call in at any time for a free of cost consultation. To ensure it smooth function, KOA had enrolled doctors from US to be available during the night time, while the Indian doctors would be available during the day.
Cdr Sanjay Kaul , Kakini Building Humanity Trust said, “Kakini has always risen to the occasion when the nation needs a helping hand during natural calamities or such occasions when the government resources and reach are not enough to tackle the situation. We are proud to partner with and thankful to KOA to save lives by providing and facilitating oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators and other life-saving equipment and services in Jammu and Delhi-NCR.”
The selfless work of the members of Kakini Building Humanity Trust and KOA has saved the lives of hundreds of people in Jammu and Delhi during this second wave. While things are now getting back to normal and many states are opening up, both these organisations will continue to do work towards the betterment of the society and lending their helping hand to those who need it the most.
About Kashmiri Overseas Association: Kashmiri Overseas Association, Inc. (KOA) is a non-profit, tax-exempt socio-cultural organization registered in Maryland, USA. Its purpose is to protect, preserve, and promote Kashmiri ethnic and socio-cultural heritage, to promote and celebrate festivals, and to provide financial assistance to the needy and deserving.
About Kakini Building Humanity Trust: Kakini Building Humanity is an NGO involved in humanitarian work in Kashmir and the North East since 2009. The Trust is involved in segments like education, healthcare, support of economically-backward classes, rescue and rehabilitation services during natural calamities, and the agriculture sector amongst others.



![New Delhi [India], January 9: Visually impaired cricketer and captain of Indian Men’s Cricket Team for the Blind Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy on Tuesday was conferred with Prestigious Arjuna Award from the President of India at a specially organized function at Rashtrapati Bhavan. National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games is given for good performance over a period of the previous three years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy (Blind Cricket) is among the 26 sportspersons who were honoured with Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2023. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports last month had announced the National Sports Awards 2023. The nominated stars received their awards from the President of India. “I am overwhelmed with this recognition. I dedicate this award to my Parents and Family members for their support. I also would like to thank Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and all the players with whom I have played,” Ajay Reddy said in a statement. Congratulating Arjuna awardee Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Chairman- Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) said “It is an honour and proud moment for all the blind cricketers across the world. It is the good recognition for the hard work and dedication in taking Cricket for the Blind to the next level through various achievements by the Indian Men’s Cricket Team for the blind under the leadership of Ajay Reddy. CABI is happy that cricket for the blind is getting the recognition with other major sports.” Following the Award ceremony, Illuri Ajay Reddy, the chairman of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar and CABI secretary Shailender Yadav also met Indian pacer Mohammad Shami. Shami is also among the 26 sportspersons who were honoured with Arjuna Award on Tuesday. Illuri Ajay Reddy is currently working in SBI regional office in Bangalore. He is a B2 category player, who is representing India since 2010. He has been part of winning two ODI World Cups, 3 T20 world cups, 1 Asia Cup. Ajay is the captain of the Indian cricket team for the blind since 2016. Under his captaincy Team India has won 1 ODI world cup, 2 T20 world cups, 1 Asia Cup and the Silver Medal in IBSA World Games and many bilateral and triangular Series. Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) acknowledges the great support received from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports through this award. The continuous support and patronage received from the esteemed ministry has helped CABI to achieve this milestone.](https://thisweekindia.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Arjuna-Award-to-Ajay-Kumar-Reddy-Captain-of-Indian-Blind-Cricket-Team-thisweekindia.png)






