Respected Members of the Supreme Council, Respected Sponsors of the First Memon International Convention 2001, Respected Dignitaries on the Dais & Respected Audience.

ASSALAM-O-ALAYKUM

I shall be dividing my speech in two parts: viz.
Part 1 - ALL INDIA MEMON JAMAT FEDERATION
Part 2 - MEMON INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

Part 1:

All India Memon Jamat Federation was established in the year 1971. It has 400 Jamats under its wing working day & night towards the upliftment of the community. These 400 Jamats are divided into 41 Zones and 41 Zonal Secretaries are appointed to look after the needy of their respective zones. The programmes of AOMJF are regularly implemented and feedback obtained through these zonal secretaries so as to monitor the progress of the community at large. AIMJF also has various sub-committees looked after by their respective chairpersons. The various sub-committee include:
(1) FINANCE COMMITTEE
(2) EDUCATION COMMITTEE
(3) MEDICAL COMMITTEE
(4) LADIES COMMITTEE
(5) EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
(6) JAMAT WELFARE COMMITTEE
(7) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE and the recently formed is the
(8) EARTHQUAKE RELIEF COMMITTEE (Please refer our "HUMAN CRY APPEAL" and donate generously)

There are 9 Vice Presidents including a senior Vice President and also a General Secretary with 2 Joint Secretaries. AIMJF has total 150 National Executive Members and 25 Invitees from all walks of life from different Jamats. National Executive eeting are held every 3 to 4 months period to assess the progress of the work undertaken and undertaking of any other necessary community programmes, The Executive Committee and the Central Core Committee meets every 2 weekly.

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ACHIEVEMENTS OF AIMJF:

With the help of World Memon Foundation, Respective Jamat contribution and individual donor's donation, more than1150 flats have been constructed and distributed free to our poor deserving families. More than 24 community centres have been built where marriages, debates, home-science classes and small scale industrial homes are running and providing handsome earnings to needy community sisters and mothers. Million rupees worth of scholarships are given to the community with the help of "Memon Educational & Welfare Society" (MEWS). Medical help worth millions is given to sick poor memon patients for major surgery by medical wing of MEWS. Unemployed youths are given jobs in various organization. Mass marriage programmes are sponsored. AIMJF has also contributed to women's degree college, hospital projects etc. Where not only our community but all the people are helped without caste, creed and religious considerations. AIMJF has also contributed to various community programmes, which include:
1) Housing Colonies
2) Community Centres
3) Educational Help
4) Medical Help
5) Employment Help
6) Financial Help to Memon Jamats/trusts/& Other Institutions
7) Financial Loans
8) Financial Help to "RIOT" affected people
9) Earthquake Relief work
The total amount allotted is Indian Rs. 3,45,59,535/- in last decade

In India the following memon organization are the pillars in imparting various necessary services to the community:
1) THE MEMON EDUCATIONAL & WELFARE SOCIETY (MEWS)
2) ISLAMIC STUDY CENTRE-BARODA
3) WORLD MEMON FOUNDATION-INDIAN CHAPTER
4) THE MEMON CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD
5) THE MEMON CHAMBEROF COMMERCE
6) RANGOONWALA FOUNDATION
7) ALLANA FOUNDATION

Memons are spreaded all over the world. Every country where memons are settled has some problem or the other, may not be identical ones. For example South Africa, the main cause of concern is "SAFETY TO LIFE", in Pakistan "POLITICAL INSTABILITY: ETC.ETC. India is the only country which has many problems but most important being that even today our brothers, sisters and children are devoid of basic needs of life i.e. Roti Kapda aur Makaan (Food, Clothes and Shelter). No money for education, no money for medical treatment, nobody to give them employment, no money for marriages. Many many of the families are living "Hand to Mouth" but the hand will go to mouth only if there is something in the hand. We have a good population in India but the effluent class is only 10% the rest 90% of the community need help in some way or the other. I don't feel ashamed to say that we memons in India are poor but definitely not beggars, we are dignified people. It is here that I Dr. Nasir Y. Fulara as President of AIMJF feel that the "World Community" can play a major role in upliftment of the underprivileged community. Definitely we believe in helping other communities but not at the cost of our people who are in dire need. We can not afford to be generous to others when our own people are in agony. Please do not feel ashamed to say that we first help memons and then others as every community is doing the same.

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PART 2

I congratulate the supreme council members and sponsors of today's convention for fulfilling our dream of bringing the world memon community on one platform. I feel proud to be among "WHO"S WHO" of the world of our community. This is indeed a historical event, which will always be remembered for the years to come. The "NEW ERA" of the community seems to have begun.

The "THINK TANK" of the memon community at large is here to plan a strategy. "GLOBALISATION", "CENTRAL LEADERSHIP and "A UNIFIED VOICE" which was the need of the hour have been realized. Common minimum programmes are going to be our future agendas. Egos and power fights are the tools of iblis.

PROPOSED SUGGESTIONS: Name of the Organisation: 1) WORLD MEMON ASSOCIATION (WMA) 2) INTERNATIONAL MEMON FEDERATION (IMF) 3) UNITED MEMON ORGANISATION (UMO) Board of Trustees: UK - 3 USA - 3 INDIA - 3 PAKISTAN - 3 SOUTH AFRICA - 3 UAE - 3 OTHER COUNTRIES - 3 TOTAL - 21

1) Criteria of selection to be a trustee should be laid down (MINIMUM 10,00,000 ONE MILLION POUNDS "CORPUS FUND"}
2) Pound 5,00,000 as contribution towards "CORPUS FUND" (NOT REFUNDABLE) by each trustee
3) Voluntary retirement clause to be defined.
4) Dissolution criteria to be defined.
5) Six monthly meetings.

Aims & Objects of the organization should include:
1) Education
2) Housing
3) Health
4) Economical upliftment
5) To act as "WORLD BODY" representing memon community

Nominations of Hon. Directors from different countries: Total - 21. To supplement the efforts of board of trustees in their respective countries

I feel that once the UMO/WA is formed the board of trustees must pledge to salvage the Indian Memon Community war footing. Indian Memons need upliftment in all sectors of community services. For example, UK and USA can play a major role in educational rehabilitation i.e. advising and helping the youth who desire to go for further studies. Other countries viz. South Africa, Pakistan, Gulf countries can play major roles in other sectors like providing shelter for homeless, sponsoring major surgeries and opening specialist hospitals, quality schools/colleges/technical institutes and employment for jobless.

UMO can also bring under its wing:
1) World Memon Professional Forum with doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants etc etc.
2) World Memon Business Houses.
We are all in transit in this world and before we embark for our final destination let us prepare ourselves with good deeds of luggage so as to reserve the best seat in Jannat, Ameen.

Thank you all
ASSALAM-0 -ALAYKUM.
Dr. Nasir Y. Fulara

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