Shahida Umma can come home this Eid
Actor Suresh Gopi has offered help to buy land in her hometown
Kochi: Shahida Umma, 62, working as a housemaid in the UAE for the past three decades, won a contest run by the Channel 4 Radio Network and thereby earned a fully paid trip to Kerala and back. Things changed better for her after her story went viral on the Facebook.
She is a landless woman from Alappuzha and has spent her entire savings for the marriage of her three daughters. She is still dreaming of a piece of land for herself in her homeland.
Now, actor Suresh Gopi has offered her financial support to realise her dream. He personally called the authorities of Channel 4 Radio Network who ran the show on an FM station and informed them of his plan.
Like many NRIs, she could not visit her loved ones on important occasions, including when her father and later her husband died.
“We conducted a campaign/contest during the Ramadhan to uphold the spirit of gifting for the less fortunate ones. We offered air tickets to 20 NRIs by running a contest called ‘Home for Eid.’ Shahida was one among the winners,” said Namitha Naiyar, station head at the Channel 4 Radio Network. “After the Facebook post went viral, Suresh Gopi contacted us and extended his support,” she said.
“Shahida who went to the UAE some 30 years back is full of positive energy. She is little bothered about her personal fortune and is still working hard for the benefit of her relatives. She wants to buy at least two cents of land," Namitha added.
A Facebook post shared by their radio jockey Vysakh received over 55,000 likes and 9,000 shares. Shahida will reach the Cochin International Airport on Saturday.