Syed Ali Ahmed | India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI, APRIL 29—The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Indian Muslims’ biggest socio-religious organisation, has carried out a mega relief programme, including distribution of food, medicines and other essential materials among poor and needy people all over the country worth over Rs. 23 crores during the lockdown from March 24 till now.
JIH secretary (Social Service) Mohammed Ahmed said that the relief work was conducted and is still continuing in close coordination with state governments and local administration. Mr. Ahmed said that the JIH provided cooked food to a large number of people stranded at different railway stations and bus stop all across the country as lakhs of migrant and daily wage workers could not find transport to reach their homes and native places after announcement of Lockdown 1.0 on March 24 and Lockdown 2.0 on April 14 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the ongoing lockdown till May 3.
Mr Ahmed said that the relief work was carried out after a comprehensive survey in the colonies to identify households which were in desperate need of help. “By adhering to all safety and hygiene measures the JIH teams initiated the relief services of cooked food and grocery kits to all the people, irrespective of religion, caste and creed. Till date, the cooked food have been served to over 3 lakh families and 3,02705 ration kits have been delivered to the people affected by the lockdown”, said Mr. Ahmed.
In addition to the cooked food and ration kits, the JIH also distributed 51,000 face masks, 6000 sanitizer bottles, hand wash bottles, gloves and drinking water among the needy people including daily wage workers, construction workers, street vendors, stranded people, marginalized, vulnerable communities and other needy people across the country, the JIH’ social service department secretary said.
According to Mr. Ahmed, the total number of beneficiaries of the JIH relief work were around 7 lakh by April 20, among them 70 per cent are marginalized workers and 30 per cent are migrant labourers.
The JIH also extended financial help amounting to Rs. 25 lakh. The total expenses on the entire relief work by the JIH so far has been Rs. 23.73 crores.
In course of relief work extended by the JIH, 500 personal protective equipment (PPE) have also been handed over to the Deputy Commissioner of South-East District of Delhi. The JIH also provided ambulance services wherever required for medical purposes.
“Our volunteers have been actively working in relief activities with other societies and trusts set up by the JIH for the sole objective of executing charitable activities”, said Mr. Ahmed.
Giving, break-up of items distributed in various states, the JIH, in a statement said that the relief work was carried out in states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Goa, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Assam, Andaman and Nicobar, Orissa, Haryana and Manipur.
