Residents in their hundreds supported the 'United for a Cause' event organised by India Social and Cultural Centre Abu Dhabi.
There was only one aim in everyone's mind - rebuilding a New Kerala.
Senior playback singer Unni Menon, Biju Narayanan and Sithara Krishnakumar were all affected by floods and told Khaleej Times about their vision for a New Kerala.
Menon, a well-travelled artist, has visited the UAE several times. The 60-year-old said Kerala can replicate the UAE's model of planning and development. "We can treat each district in Kerala separately and consider it as the UAE. Every district can have a governing body. We can rebuild Kerala like any developed foreign land."
He noted that there was no discrimination in the name of caste or religion in the UAE.
"We need a similar mindset in our state," said the artist who has sung over 3,000 songs.
He lamented that even nature's fury hasn't changed Malayalis deep-rooted love for strikes and shutdown.
"These things should be banned. Kerala needs a people's movement. Selfishness should give way to collectiveness. We need open-minded young minds as decision makers. They should replace our politicians, who are misusing tax-payers money."
He noted such a disaster can happen again and Kerala needed a robust disaster management plan of action. "Dealing with natural calamity needs lot of planning. We have destroyed our water bodies. We can all remain silent to all this or act now."
He highlighted a need to monitor the usage of money from Chief Minister Disaster Relief Fund. "The government shouldn't take things for granted." Menon was himself affected by floods. "For over a year, I had planned things for my son's wedding but at the end it was done in a simple manner. We shifted venue from Thrissur district to Chennai in Tamil Nadu state," he added.
Krishnakumar said her house in Aluva was flooded. "Water covered the ground floor of our house. Those were difficult days. The floods have washed away barriers between celebrities and commoner.?
SOURCE : KHALEEJTIMES