| Taxi drivers’ team, Nilambur, Malappuram |
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Helping the needy in the way they know best: this is what the taxi drivers’ team from Nilambur is doing. Almost 10 drivers including Stanley Joseph, Pulliyil Usman and M.Jayaprakash are involved in activities like taking patients to the hospital, providing them assistance there, taking a lead in distributing free porridge at the Taluk Hospital etc.
The team freely drives the ambulance of Nirmala Abhaya Bhavan, Moothedam. In fact the ambulance is parked just close to the taxi stand. While the ride to Medical College at Kozhikode is free for the poor, the team collects a small amount from those who can afford it. However, this does not even meet the expense towards maintenance of the vehicle, according to Stanley Joseph.
Not only do they rush the poor patients to the hospital, but takes care of their other needs there. On certain days, the driver going with the patient in the morning will be returning only at night, says Usman.
Nirmala Abaya Bhavan and NGO ‘Nanma’ provide free lunch to the needy in the Taluk Hospital. These drivers are in the forefront in this activity too. Many of them are members of the Red Cross also. According to the team, Director of Abhaya Bhavan, Dr.Raju George provides them required guidance.
Other drivers who are part of the team include Sunil.S.S, N.Murali, Kunhani, Ashraf, Santhosh, Muthu Koya and Babu Zakir. They dream of taking patients to the hospital in their own ambulance.
Courtesy:
C.Sajil, Mathrubhumi,
September 2, 2005
Contributed by: Administrator
