No hassles or long wait. No procedural delays either. It is pension sans tension. No wonder widows and disabled flock to Safa Baitulmaal in Malakpet the sixth of every month to pick up their dole.
Those who avail the government’s old age pension find dealing with Safa a pleasant experience. They get the financial succour with a touch of respect and care here as against the typical official apathy displayed in government sector. The contrast can’t be more striking.
“The money given is of great help to me”, says Parveen of Hafiz Babanagar. Her eyes turn moist as she recalls the pathetic condition she was in after her husband’s death with five children to take care.
Scores of widows – both young and old – eagerly look forward to the monthly pension of Rs. 500 disbursed by the Safa Baitulmaal, a charitable trust. Every month it disburses Rs. 60,000 among 120 women. This is one of the several welfare activities taken up by Safa set up in 2006.
A large number of women, some disabled, turned up at the Safa office situated in Wahid Nagar, Old Malakpet, on Tuesday to collect their pension. Moiz Begum of Mustaidpura went with a relieved heart after collecting the Rs. 500 note. She has three blind sons to take care.
“The idea is to ameliorate the sufferings of the poor, particularly widows, living in slums”, says Gayas Ahmed Rashadi, president, Safa Baitulmaal Charitable Trust.
Widow pension is given for one year and then another set of poor women are chosen for help. But there are several cases where pension is extended on a permanent basis in view of the distressed situation. The Safa pensions are sponsored by the rich in the community. Affluent persons take up the responsibility of helping out one widow every month.
As usual the Safa Charitable Trust commenced distribution of cool drinking water at the Osmania General Hospital on Tuesday. This activity will continue during the entire summer till June 5. Cool water is transported from the Sal Sabil Safa water plant to the OGH. Nearly 2500 litres of water is supplied per day to both patients and visitors. Around 5000 persons avail this facility.
“No charity is too small”, says Moulana Gayas and recalls the virtue of a person gaining Paradise by offering water to a thirsty dog.
This year he plans to extend this facility at Niloufer Hospital too where majority of patients come from poor background.
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