MUHAMMED HANEEFA: REPAIRING ROADS ON HIS OWN INITIATIVE
|
| S.A.Mohammed Haneefa, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram |
|
|
|
Download Database of featured talents. (Excel file) |
He may have retired from service but he doesn’t forget his duty to fellow citizens. S.A.Mohammed Haneefa, who retired as lasker from PWD Roads Section, Palode after 33 years of service, still finds time to do everyday what he used to do as a Government employee.
Everyday he spends 2 hours between 6 and 8 in the morning attending to the maintenance of Palode-Brimore road. Cleaning the drain, leveling the kerb, clearing the weeds and other vegetative growth, painting the electric post, protecting the road with fencing where the embankment has been eroded etc are the jobs he still carries out on his own initiative.
Rain cannot deter him, for he has purchased 3 raincoats and 2 caps for the purpose of his work. In addition he has purchased 2 pickaxes, 3 shovels, 3 pans etc. All these items have been bought with his own money.
The sight of frequent accidents in the road running in front of his house and the plight of vehicles getting trapped in the ditches dug for laying cables etc prompted him to contribute his mite to ameliorate the situation.
He informs the department in writing whatever work he does everyday. In addition, he informs the higher authorities what he cannot do alone. If the department condescends once in a while to pay him daily wages, he accepts it. But if not, then Haneefa takes that also in his stride.
65-year-old Haneefa lives with his wife Umaida. His 2 daughters have been married off and his son is an employee in BSF.
He would like to consider his work as part of his duty and not as a voluntary service.
Haneefa at work
Courtesy: Malayala Manorama, January 26, 2001
Contributed by: Administrator
