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Muscat philanthropist conferred Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award

An Indian philanthropist and businessman, Kiran Asher, who lives in Muscat, has been conferred with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award.
Muscat,19Jan,2012: An Indian philanthropist and businessman, Kiran Asher, who lives in Muscat, has been conferred with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award by the Indian President Pratibha Patil at the valedictory session of the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jaipur recently. Asher, founder partner and Group Managing Director of Al Ansari Group of Companies in Muscat, is known for his benevolence, especially for the Indian Diaspora in Oman. Asher, who was among the 14 eminent overseas Indian the award winners, has always been at the forefront for social or charity work in Oman. A founder board member of the Indian Community Schools in Oman, Asher's doors have always been open for people in distress. Not known to make much noise about his work, the doors of his company camp is always open for workers, who are left without accommodation or salaries.
"Whenever we need to accommodate for distressed workers, without hesitation we can depend on Kiranbhai to open the doors of his company camp, not only that he even provides food for these workers," said P.M. Jabir, Social Welfare Secretary with the Indian Social Club. "The charity work is never done for recognition but such prestigious awards spur everyone do indulge in such activities," said Asher, who is also a founder member of the Indian Social Club in Muscat.
Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed's grandfather — Sultan Taimour — had conferred the title of ‘kazi' (a judge) on Asher's great grandfather. "I am trying my best to keep up the family tradition of helping people," said the soft spoken businessman. "I am thankful for the support of the people from Oman," he added. Asher is the fifth recipient of the award from Oman. The previous winners from Oman include Shaikh Kanaksi Gokaldas Khimji (Khimji Ramdas) in 2003, P Mohammed Ali (Galfar) in 2004, P N C Menon (The Sobha Group) in 2009, and Suresh K Virmani (Bahwan Engineering Company) in 2010. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman is the highest award conferred by the Indian government on NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and institutions run by them. They are recognised for their contribution in serving the Indian Diaspora and enhancing India's image in different parts of the world. P. V. Radhakrishna Pillai from Bahrain and Hassan Abdulkarim Chougule from Qatar were the others from the Gulf region who received the award.
Other recipients
The other winners are Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar , Surendra Kumar Kaushik and Kalpalatha Kummamuri Guntupalli from the US, Sachchidanand Sahai from Cambodia, Deepak Naraindas Shivdasani from Cote D'Ivoire, Victor Shahed Smetacek from Germany, Prakash Lohia, chairman of Indorama Corporation (company first established in Indonesia), Jose Parayanken from Mozambique, S R Nathan from Singapore, Khorshed Noshir Ginwala Rustomjee from South Africa, and Rajesh Kumar Saraiya from Ukraine.