There has been a substantial increase in donation to charities during Ramzan, as many Muslims pay their Zakat (annual alms) during the holy month and cover the expenses for iftar meals and Id gifts for orphans and others in need.
In a laudable move, several groups in the city are pitching in for the Ramzan charity distribution by collecting Zakat amounts from individuals. According to the organisers, volunteers survey the needy and make a list accordingly, after which they deliver food and groceries.
“We surveyed every village in the state and made a list of households a month before Ramzan. We purchased directly from companies in bulk and made kits that we deliver to doorsteps of the needy,” Shahid Ali Khan, managing trustee at Hyderabad Zakat Charitable Trust, said.
He said 18,500 families across the state will receive foodgrain and groceries, and 12,000 families will receive new clothes for Id as part of the charity effort. “We started the distribution process from the beginning of Ramzan and have till date covered almost 80 per cent of our target,” he said. Sahayata, another city-based group, even distributes to areas in Odisha and Karnataka, CEO Syed Aneesuddin said. “We are funded by philanthropic groups, mostly based in the US and UK, and also by individuals,” he said.