How a Muslim trust is redefining charity, making it meaningful

How a Muslim trust is redefining charity, making it meaningful

Hyderabad: There is no dearth of generous people in society who want to do something for the less fortunate, but their help often doesn’t reach the needy or gets misappropriated. To make charity a satisfying experience that brings the intended results to both benefactor and beneficiary, a Hyderabad-based group, Safa Baitul Maal, is showing the way by creating and using data to link the rich with the poor and needy. Every month, this educational, welfare and charitable trust spend Rs 70-80 lakh on its charitable activities in different states. Set up by Moulana Gayas Ahmed Rashadi in 2006, the organization has 70 branches in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh.

Headed by a group of five “ulemas” or religious scholars, Safa Baitul Maal has a 450-strong staff who are paid salaries. “We make sure that the aid by the rich reaches those who are genuinely needy,” Moulana Rashadi told IANS.

He is also trying to bring ulemas into the field of charity. The organization is roping in the imams of mosques in its activities. “The imam of a mosque is not just the head of that mosque but he is the head of the people of his area, irrespective of their religion,” he said.

Every day the organization’s call center in Hyderabad receives 400-500 calls, both from those who are in need of help and those who want to donate. The organization ensures transparency in such a way that every donor can get all the details of how his money was spent and the names and contact numbers of the beneficiaries.

“Whoever approaches us seeking help has to provide all the details and we send our people to cross-check the information provided by the applicant,” said M.A. Muqtadir Imran, in-charge of the Safa’s branches.

Based on the findings of the survey, the applicants are issued white, yellow or pink cards, enabling them to receive aid in varying degrees.

Safa Baitul Maal receives ‘Zakat’, ‘Fitra’, ‘Sadqa’ and other charities and donations from the people. However, a collection of household scrap is its biggest source of income. On an average, it receives 100 calls to pick up old items from houses in Hyderabad.

The group runs 12 vehicles to pick up the scrap and shift it to its workshop. Some items, which are in good condition, are repaired and sold at its unit at Bandlaguda at affordable prices to mobilize funds. The organization earns Rs 18-19 lakh from scrap and the money is ploughed back into charity activities. (IANS)

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