Sunday lockdown proves good to this poor family in Karnataka's Sullia

MANGALURU: The Sunday lockdown has come as a blessing in disguise for the family of Haneef at Menala village in Sullia.
Local youths, under the banner Viqaya, the emergency response and social service wing of Samastha Kerala Sunni Students’ Federation (SKSSF), are utilising the forced break to serve the poor in villages. Accordingly, the volunteers joined hands to construct a house for Haneef’s family. On Sunday, they successfully completed the foundation work.
Thajuddin Tarly, vice-chairman of Viqaya (Dakshina Kannada district unit), told TOI that Haneef is a poor coolie worker, looking after a family of four. “For the past four months, Haneef has been striving to keep the pot boiling at his rented house. It was his dream to own a house in a small piece of land he owns at Menala. Though he had started the construction work some months ago, the lockdown did not let him complete the foundation work. Knowing his plight, the team of Viqaya decided to help him by volunteering in the construction of the house,” Thajuddin said.
Over 20 Viqaya volunteers, led by SKSSF Menala unit president Khader Belya, secretary Mahammed Menala and treasurer Shareef, completed filling the foundation, and the work will continue next Sunday.
Khader Belya said Viqaya members will be with Haneef till his dream house is built. “We do not want the Sunday lockdown go waste. So we have decided to do ‘shramadana’ to help the poor,” he added.