The Bahrain Kerala Samajam (BKS) has completed construction and handed over a house to former expatriate and long-serving community organiser P.P. Sukumaran, society officials announced on Thursday. The home is the latest delivery under the Samajam’s housing assistance programme, which aims to support vulnerable Malayali expatriates who have faced illness, debt and hardship.
Bahrain Kerala Society house donation supports former expatriate
According to BKS leaders, the project used land bought specifically for the beneficiary and was completed with funds mobilised by the society. Sukumaran, a former Indore Games secretary and active member of the expatriate community, lived and worked in Bahrain for around 40 years. He later faced significant medical bills and financial difficulties, prompting the Samajam to intervene.
“The community has a duty to stand by those who helped build our network here,” said P.V. Radhakrishnan, president of the Bahrain Kerala Samajam, addressing guests at the handover ceremony. Radhakrishnan highlighted the society’s broader welfare work in Kerala and Bahrain and described the housing initiative as one of its most important charitable activities.
The handover event drew a wide range of attendees, including former local panchayat leaders, community office-bearers and representatives of Bahrain’s Malayali associations. Leaders who spoke at the ceremony praised the Samajam’s collaborative approach, noting that it provides a model other overseas Malayali organisations can follow.
BKS officials said the housing programme is designed to prioritise the most needy—those who have exhausted personal resources because of illness or other hardships. “So far we have completed and handed over about 35 houses under this scheme,” Radhakrishnan said. He added that the Samajam works closely with local governance bodies and district committees in Kerala to coordinate care and identify beneficiaries.
Community leaders publicly thanked Sukumaran for his decades of service and acknowledged the role played by numerous donors and volunteers. The society’s president noted that the house project also aimed to strengthen ties between Bahrain’s Malayali community and institutions back in Kerala by sharing best practices in welfare work and project delivery.
Present at the ceremony were senior figures from both Bahrain and Kerala’s local governance circles, including members of panchayats and welfare organisations. Their attendance underscored the close relationship between expatriate groups and their home-state representatives.
Officials said construction for beneficiaries begins only after land has been procured and funding confirmed. That approach, they argued, prevents project delays and ensures completed homes can be handed over quickly to those in need. The Samajam reiterated its commitment to continuing the housing scheme and encouraged contributions from the community and partnering organisations.
As Bahrain’s Malayali organisations maintain their welfare work abroad, initiatives such as this house donation serve as visible reminders of mutual support among expatriates. The Samajam said it will keep advancing its welfare programmes and exploring ways to scale up assistance to reach more vulnerable members of the diaspora.
Key Takeaways:
- Bahrain Kerala Samajam completed a house for former expatriate and community leader P.P. Sukumaran under its housing scheme.
- The project used purchased land and funding from the society; the scheme has delivered about 35 homes to date.
- Society president P.V. Radhakrishnan and other community leaders attended a ceremonial handover and praised the cooperative effort.
- The initiative targets vulnerable expatriates facing illness and debt, and the society plans to continue expanding the programme.
