A Ramzan ritual: That is never fulfilled

A Ramzan ritual: That is never fulfilled
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A Ramzan Ritual: That Is Never Fulfilled. very year the govt promises funds for the upkeep of masjids during Eid, but the money is never paid.

Every year the govt promises funds for the upkeep of masjids during Eid, but the money is never paid. This year, KCR Govt has announced Rs 5 crore and none of the masjids got anything so far, though Ramzan is just four days away.

The holy month of Ramzan is just a few days away but mosques in the city have not received funds from the Wakf Board. Last week Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao announced to release Rs 5 crore for Ramzan arrangements in Hyderabad and nine other districts. At a meeting held at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the corporators were told to conduct a survey on the number of mosques and send a report but none of the caretakers received any money.

Syed Hamed Hussain Jaffery, president, AP Shia Youth Conference, says, “It is the same old story. Every year mutawallis depend on good samaritans for help to give a fresh paint to the mosques and clean the surroundings. It is more than 16 years since masjids received funds from the government.”

Mir Abbas Ali Musvi, mutavalli (caretaker/manager) of Badeshahi Ashoorkhana at Patterghatti, says, “Last year the management received Rs 5,000 from the Wakf Board towards maintenance and sprucing up the place for Ramzan. This year, however, they have not heard from the authorities.”

There are several mosques that are more than 70 years old and need yearly maintenance. Many have leaking roofs and in some mosques wild plants grow from the crevices of the outer walls.

Several caretakers of mosques and ashoorkhanas seek help from local businessmen and NRIs for upkeep of the mosques. Some even have used social networking sites for help, for instance, the management of Masjid-e-Zubeda, Asif Nagar has a Facebook page looking out for donations.

Even the big mosques such as Mecca Masjid, Chowk ki Masjid, Toli Masjid, Mird-e-Munnawwar ki Masjid and Jama Masjid at Barkas lack proper drinking water and sanitation.

In 2013, the previous Kiran Kumar Reddy government announced a grant of Rs 2 crore to the Wakf Board but thanks to the lack of will and lackadaisical attitude of the staff, the money could not be released and the Ramzan was over.

Abbas, a resident of Mir Chowk, says, “We have been hearing the government promise crores of rupees before the month of Ramzan but not a single paisa reaches the mosques. Locals with the help of businessman collect funds and spruce up mosques.”

While people have been disappointed with the Wakf Board for not releasing funds, the gesture by Chief Minister KCR to let Muslim employees leave offices by 4 pm so that they can join the Iftar at the time of breaking the fast.

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