It’s Ramzan, and two Hyderabad-based NGOs are celebrating by providing iftar to jail inmates.
Majlis Dawat-ul-Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami have been serving iftar to the inmates of Cherlapally and Chanchalguda jails for the past two decades, The News Minute reported.
In both the jails, around 750 inmates including men, women and children kept in juveline homes, fast during the holy month.
It has been 26 years that Majlis Dawat-ul-Islam started providing food at the Cherlapally jail, while Jamaat-e-Islami has been serving the Chanchalguda inmates from the past 15 years. These organisation seeks prior permission from the jail authorities every year to continue serving food to inmates.
“It is mandated in the Quran that we provide food to the needy during the period of Ramzan. Jail convicts, many of whom are in the path of transformation, observe the fast in the most pious way possible. But they don’t get enough food in the jail premises after the day-long rigorous fast. Providing food to them ensures not a single person goes to sleep hungry after 14-15 hours of starvation.”Khaja Ali Barbar, a member of the Majlis Dawat-ul-Islam told TNM
A mix of fruits including dates and mangoes are provided to all the inmates who observe the fast, TNM reported.
Member of the Jamaat-e-Islami Syed Nazir say that they began providing iftar after the organisation’s president made a visit to the Chanchalguda central prison in 2004.
Around Rs 2-3 lakh is required every year to feed the inmates throughout the Ramzan month, however, both the organisations vouch that not a single rupee is sought from people outside the NGOs.
(With inputs from The News Minute)
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