By Matters India Reporter
Pathanamthitta, May 18, 2022: A Muslim police officer’s act of kindness has brought joy to the families of two Hindu autorickshaw drivers in Pathanamthitta, Kerala.
Assar Uman Ebin Umar Sahib, a Sub Inspector, decided to meet autorickshaw drivers in the southern Indian town to find out how they fared during the corona pandemic.
A few drivers told him about their two colleagues who had stopped plying their vehicle and took up other jobs. Hari and Aji could not drive their vehicles as they had not paid insurance fees. Without paying the insurance they could not bring their autorickshaws on the road.
Assar asked them if they would accept help from him. “I accepted his gift gladly,” Hari said as Assar offered him 6,000 rupees, sufficient to pay the insurance premium. “I have no words to express my gratitude to him,” he added.
His friend Aji received 7,000 rupees from Assar.
Hari said he could not find money for the insurance after meeting his family needs during the corona period. “What Assar sir has done is really great. We never expected help from the police department,” he added.
Aji too had never expected such help from the police department. “We feel really happy now.”
Assar says he believes money has value only if it is used to help others. “Until then it is just a paper,” he told media persons.
The police officer said he had observed many autorickshaw drivers struggling to survive during the pandemic. “Ajit and Hari had regular customers, but they could not serve them during the pandemic without paying the insurance fees. I was happy to note that they preferred other jobs to violating the law.”
Assar acknowledges that he cannot help many. “But I thought of helping those who were really in need,” the police officer said with a smile.
Aji says it is a rare quality to sense the need of another person and reach out to him or her. No matter what job we do we can all be bringing joy to our neighbors if we have this quality, he added.