Abdulhafiz lakhani Ahmedabad/Mumbai
Close on the heels of communal propaganda unleashed over the Tablighi markaz saga, A Muslim woman (with Hijab) of Mumbai shows true Islamic values and virtues by distributing meals to thousand of people irrespective of cast, creed and religion in current lockdown in wake of covid-19 pendemic which sweeps India for the last three week.
Amid nationwide lockdown and complete business shutdown, mass hunger looms for daily-wage earners and stranded Immigrant labourers who live from hand to mouth. Nikhat Mohamedy – a hijab clad woman ought to feed such vulnerable groups and is serving almost 100,000 people a day in country’s financial capital Mumbai.
Taking with www.siyasat.net and Gujarat siyasat, Mrs. Nikhat says that she started 150 meals initially from Crawford market for daily wagers but soon after Corona virus related lockdown demand was on rise drastically and she had to do some very special effrorts to feed the people. She adds that “hunger has no religion and it is human right to have atleast one decent meal in a day”.
Almost 45 years of age, this Muslim lady has four grown up children. She is from Karachi, Pakistan and married in Mumbai about 25 years ago. She is a Cerified Life Coach and manager operation at Idafa Investments ( Wealth Creation The shariah Way ), Idafa Investments was started by her Husband Ashraf Mohamedy 26 years back and it sepcializes in offereing halal Investments solutions. Replying to a question, she says that her family loves community service from very beginning.
Normally Muslim women are confined to four walls, Does she get support from family in this lockdown period for this social service, she emphatically says that she always gets unconditional, uninterrupted and unflinching support from her husband. Her husband stuck in Pune due to lockdown but son Sulaiman Mohamedy is with her for this work.
She asserted that she is only woman in the team. There are about 400-500 volunteers and 40- 50 people are kitchen.
Ms. Nikhat along with her team at BE HUMAN FOUNDATION she has a team at at Bhisti Mohalla Sunni Muslim Ghanchi Jamaatkhana in Mumbai who prepares the meals and distributes them to areas all across Mumbai like Bandra Jogeshwari, Govandi, Bhiwandi, Dharavi, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Malad, Amjubwadi, Wadala, Worli and most of the south Mumbai
“We were a mere handful of people at Be Human Foundation when we started but now we have more than ten NGOs collaborating with us. Renowed national social activist Uzma Nahid’s IIWA, NISUM, Garima foundation, Giant groups likes Suriya Trust, Carven sterling, Usman Foundation for humanity, are with us. Moreover we cook vegetarian food as the food distribution is not restricted to any particular community or religion as hunger sees no religion,” explains Nikhat.
“No one Ever Sleeps Hungry (NESH) – a food distribution movement for around 200 to 250 people started 8 months ago from Muslim majority locality Nagpada in Byculla under the baner of Choti Si Aasha”, says Zaheer Dewan – NGO member.
Talking about the Being Human Foundation journey so far, Nikhat narrates, “We initially started the distribution with 150 people and today we reached almost 97,000 people. Now we are aiming to reach 500,000 slum dwellers and immigrant labourers who are standed in Mumbai in coming days”.
Are you facing any gender discrimination in this humanitiran work,She says that she is only one lady in whole operation on ground zero but Alhamdulliah she gets full support from her team. Her volunteers are real heros.she just face of so many hidden unsung heroes who are working tirelessly in current crisis.
She laments that despite this humanitiran giant work, her volunteers have to face police lathi charge at some times. They have not got Lockdown passes at some places. Some times volunteers are being hold for some time by Police. But we are just working this work to please Allah as our beloved Prophet Muhammed shows the way.
Government issued guidelines are strictly being followed while carrying out the entire cooking and distribution process. The personnel involved wear protective gear and hand glows for containment efforts and to remain protected from the virus, she adds
It is commendable to see a woman coming from a society which expects them to remain closed doors, is running and leading such large initiative along with men counterparts.
Such noble ventures always need funds to sustain which helps people sail through tough times. Helpline no. 8448448584.
(www.siyasat.net is Ahmedabad based website)
