Media Release

Doha, Dec 21: Qatar NRIs from Karnataka had a chance to meet and discuss with the newly appointed cabinet rank officer Dr Arthi Krishna, the deputy chairman of the NRI Forum of Karnataka. The chairman of the forum is Chief Minister of Karnakata Siddaramaiah.

Six Karnataka based organizations namely Karnataka Sanga Qatar (KSQ), Karnataka Muslim Cultural Association (KMCA), Tulu Koota Qatar (TKQ), Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), South Kanara Muslim Welfare Association (SKMWA), and Bunts Qatar (BQ) affiliated to ICC under the aegis of Embassy of India, came together and hosted Dr Arthi Krishna in Qatar from December 16 to 17 who was on her Gulf tour to create the awareness of the existence of NRI forum, its policies and the newly introduced NRK cards for Kannadigas living abroad.

Dr Arthi attended two programmes organized by the Karnataka based organizations and met several community and business leaders hailing from Karnataka. On December 16, a programme was organized to meet the business leaders from Karnataka at Radisson Blu hotel, Venus hall followed by dinner. During the meeting, the business leaders introduced themselves to each other and Dr Arthi explained her role as the head of NRI forum of Karnataka and informed the attendees about the new policies that are formed and how it will help NRIs to take benefit in India and abroad. The business leaders were invited to ask their concerns during the very interactive Q&A session and Dr Arthi answered, clarified and noted all their concerns and committed to be focal point between NRIs and various government organisations to facilitate and easy the process to establish new ventures and investments.

The attendees applauded the efforts of Dr Arthi and her dedication to the responsible position she is holding.

The meeting was compered by Saquib Raza Khan, general secretary of KMCA and Aisha Rafique welcomed the gathering. Divaker Poojary introduced Dr Arthi Krishna and her achievements.

The meeting was attended by around 40 business and community leaders of Karnataka origin living in Qatar. The meeting was followed by sumptuous dinner.

Earlier, Dr Arthi arrived at the Qatar Airport at 11:40 am on the December 16, where she received a grand welcome by the executive members of the Karnataka based organisations, with a flower bouquet. She was escorted then to her hotel, followed by lunch and short tour of Qatar.

On the return, she met the people from Chikkamagaluru district living in Qatar as she too hails from Chikkamagaluru. The team was lead by Niyaz Ahmed who was instrumental in arranging her visit to Qatar. This meeting was followed by the meeting with business leaders as above.

On the Day 2, Dr Arthi was hosted by P Kumaran, the Indian ambassador to Qatar for the whole day as they are known to each other during their posting in Indian Embassy at Washington, USA. They are colleagues then and continued their good friendship and this visit of Dr Arthi was well awaited by the Indian ambassador.

The evening on day 2 was marked with a three hour community programme organized for the Karnataka community living in Qatar where P Kumaran was the chief guest, Dr Arthi Krishna was the special guest of honor and Milan Arun, the president of Indian Community Center was the guest of honor.

Dr Arthi along with P Kumaran and Milan Arun were welcomed in Karnataka style with traditional drums and ladies escorting with traditional way through the audience.

The lamp was lighted by Dr Arthi followed by P Kumaran, Milan Arun and the heads of organisations in the presence to full packed audience at Ashoka Hall of ICC to mark the beginning of the programme.

Madhu H Krishnamurthy, the president of KSQ started the programme as master of ceremony and invited Bharathi Shetty and Pushpa Rao under the guidance of Ashwin P Kumar to sing the famous song written by the renowned poet Rashtrakavi Kuvempu of Karnataka. They melodious voice of this duo mesmerized the audience and marked apt opening
and welcome song highlighting ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’.

Saquib Raza Khan of KMCA welcomed the gathering.

Divaker Poojary read out the profile of Dr Arthi and the heads of organizations felicitated Dr Arthi with traditional Indian shawl, garland and Mysuru Peta. She was presented with a memento.

Dr Arthi Krishna addressed the gathering and conveyed the details of NRI forum and its benefits. The audience applauded for her desire to help the NRIs. During the speech Dr Arthi Krishnan acknowledged the efforts and push made by Janab Niyaz Ahmed for inviting her to Qatar and thanked the heads of organisations for the grand felicitation conducted which was not expected by her.

Milan Arun, the guest of honor addressed the audience and emphasized on the unity of Karnataka organisations and her high regard for the Karnataka organisations of Qatar due to their involvement in various Indian and Qatar cultural and sports activities as organisations.

P Kumaran addressed the gathering and narrated the work experience with Dr Arthi and how she always had the desire and apathy to help the Indian community while working as colleagues at Embassy of Indian in USA. He conveyed his good luck and asked her to take up bigger roles as Politician due to her philanthropical works and helping nature. He also showed his confidence on her capabilities to handle bigger roles.

This was followed by the interaction session with Dr Arthi inviting questions from the audience. The audience was asked to submit their concerns/questions and these were read out by Divaker Poojary who anchored these Q&A session. Some of the members from the audience asked the questions directly. There were many good queries which was answered by Dr Arthi Krishna, P Kumaran and Milan Arun where deemed necessary.

It was a bundle of knowledge take away home for the audience knowing many firsthand information that are generally not aware to the people living abroad about how Indian embassy is functioning to take care of their citizens and how Indian government along with NRI forum/Foreign Affairs Ministry working towards the betterment of we the people living abroad.

The programme began at 6:00 pm and concluded at 9:00 pm with light refreshment for the gathering.

At the programme, the stage was occupied by Madhu H, president of KSQ, Aisha Rafique, vice-president of KMCA, Kiran Anand, vice-president of Tulukoota, Suhaib Ahmed, president of SKMWA, Prakash Norohna, president of MCC, Navneeth Shetty, president of Bunts Qatar.

The team was formed by six Karnataka based organization headed by Madhu H, the president of KSQ and Saquib Raza Khan, general secretary of KMCA to lead the two days visit programme of Dr Arthi Krishna with the support of heads of organisations. The team included KMCA president Abdulla Monu, Tulukoota president Asmath Ali, MCC president Prakash Norohna, SKMWA president Suhaib Ahmed, Bunts Qatar president Navneeth Shetty, past president of Tulukoota Ravi Shetty, Divaker Poojary, ably supported by Niyaz Ahmed, Subramania Hebbagilu, Mahesh Gowda and Arvind Patil.

Dr Arthi commended on the excellent organization of the two day event.

She left to Dubai as part of continuation of her Gulf tour.