Javaid Naikoo
Srinagar, Feb 17 : Post Guru’s hanging has witnessed increased dependence on welfare trust in the Valley. The laborers, cart pullers, vegetable and fruit sellers who have to work daily to make a living are the worst hit and have been seen going to charitable institutions for help. Fallah-ud-Darain, a welfare trust functional in Baramullah town distributed around 300 cheques among the needy to meet the basic necessities. Parvaiz Ahmad, an office bearer of the trust said daily wagers (people working on daily bases in markets and in some private institutions) approached the trust for help in secrecy because of social stigma. "The number of people coming to us increased after Guru’s hanging when the authorities clamped curfew and separatists called for strikes", he said. Likewise according to the data received from the Central Baitul-Mall office Shopian, new faces are approaching the concerned members of this welfare trust these days for help. According to Altaf Ahmad, one founder member of the said welfare trust, around fifteen people were referred to various hospitals in Srinagar during the prevailing strike days bearing all their expenses to provide them life saving medical treatments like blood dialyses treatment. The trust also distributed among many people to feed their families.
Shockingly, Altaf said the number of donors has decreased over the past one week. "We are not seeking donations for the time being as the people in general are hard pressed", he said. A driver wishing anonymity said he prefers to approach the welfare organizations to begging. "Number of times I and my family have gone to bed without food during curfews and strikes", he said. Pertinent mention that many welfare trusts were established in Kashmir since 2008 Amarnath land row agitation at district levels. All such institutions are run by common people and do not accept any donations from Government institutions. |
