Al-Khair completes 25 yrs of yeoman service to poor

Golconda: On completion of its 25 years of service to poor and underprivileged, the Al-Khair Society is planning to launch new services to the populace in Golconda region. With provision of free coaching to SSC students, the society now aims to help the students of government schools, whose parents cannot afford to send them for special coaching classes.

After identifying the need to support uplift of thousands of poor families staying inside the fort walls of Golconda, Al-Khair Society started its operations in 1994. Initially, its services included provision of book bank for students by setting up library, particularly for Intermediate students, and a tailoring centre. Besides this, regular programmes like circumcision (khatna) camp, career guidance lectures and presentation of meritorious awards for SSC and Intermediate students expanded the range of its programmes.

Interest-free finance for petty traders

Finding how petty businessmen were harassed and forced to pay more interest by usurious money lenders, the society in the recent years extended interest-free micro finance to them. "Small vendors like puncture shop, kirana, fruit merchant and small-time tailors are some of the beneficiaries. Till now around 120 beneficiaries availed of our services and about Rs 6 lakh loans were provided to them. Also hundreds of women were handed over sewing machines for free, so that they garner source of income," said Md Naseeruddin, the manager of Al-Khair, Golconda.

Provision of medicalequipment for needy

In recent years, the society also launched its new service to provide medical equipment free of cost to the underprivileged, such as neck-belts (cervical collar), arm-sticks, walkers, commode chairs, wheelchairs, water beds, knee-caps and also back belts. Till now around 800 to 900 patients were able to receive the provisions. Naseeruddin informed that for screening the eligible candidates, "we have highly qualified volunteers who work as faculty, guide people and extend free services like free distribution of blankets to homeless."

Computer centre for students

In 2014, the society started a computer centre which imparts basic courses like MS Office, Autocad, Tally etc to the needy students. Service of e-library is extended at a nominal cost of Rs 200. "Even as we expanded services of Al-Khair to other areas, we also came up with computer centres in Qutubullapur, Gulshan Iqbal colony (Shaikpet), Saber Nagar, Hakeempet, Sayeedabad, Yakutpura, Hafiz Baba Nagar, Sri Lingampally, Borabanda, Kakatiya nagar, Rasoolpura, Khilwat, Omar Nagar (Amberpet) and Purani Haveli (Charminar)," said Md Muneeruddin, Secretary, Al-Khair Society.

Medical camps

In view of the denizens suffering seasonal and dengue fevers, the society in coordination with DARE and Jamaat-e-Islami Hindi (JIH) held free seven medical camps in Tolichowki, Golconda, Langar Houz, Amberpet, Langer Houz, Rajendra Nagar and Bahadurpura areas. An eyesight screening and cataract detection camp was also organised at Tolichowki, Borabanda, Golconda, where hundreds of spectacles were distributed, cataract surgeries performed for free at Sadhuram Eye Hospital. "The next eyesight screening and cataract detection camp will be held on December 1 at Qutubullapur and on December 8 in Amberpet," informed Muneerduddin.