‘Zakat’ helps shape needy students’ destiny

Ghiasuddin Babukhan, the man behind HZCT, has decided to hone the skills of toppers at his newly set up Hyderabad Institute of Excellence

Ghiasuddin Babukhan

Charity that is trifle to one can be precious to others. And if channelised properly it can be leveraged to bring about a revolution. That’s what is happening at a remote place in Vikarabad, 70 km from here. Children who don’t know where their next meal will come from are getting the best of education in idyllic surroundings.

All this thanks to the unknown benefactors. ‘Zakat’, the annual poor due given by Muslims, is rewriting the destiny of many an underprivileged child. The Hyderabad Zakat and Charitable Trust (HZCT), which believes in education being the most powerful weapon, is using the money collected by it to uplift the community.

Ghiasuddin Babukhan, the man behind HZCT, has now decided to hone the skills of toppers at his newly set up Hyderabad Institute of Excellence (HIE). The first batch of 115 students will be taking the Intermediate first year exam this year. What is common about these students hailing from remote parts of the State is their poverty and brilliance. Most have scored 93 per cent marks in the SSC exam. What do their parents do? They are auto-rickshaw drivers, welders or petty vendors. None of them could ever dream of providing holistic education to their wards in a corporate type institution. “A sum of Rs.1.85 lakh is incurred per student per annum and all the expenses are met through the ‘Zakat’ fund,” says Mr. Babukhan.

28,000 students

He believes in using ‘Zakat’ money for education. Last year, HZCT collected Rs. 9 crore through ‘Zakat’ donation and of this 90 per cent was spent on education of poor Muslims. The Trust is supporting education of 28,000 students in 103 schools managed by the Foundation for Economic and Educational Development.

Being creative

“At HIE we plan to train students to be creative thinkers and effective team players,” says Mr. Babukhan.

Spread over 120 acres the HIE is designed to accommodate 2,000 students in phases.

During 2014-15 it is proposed to start classes VI to VIII with CBSE syllabus and the following year girls sections.

The HIE campus, will be formally inaugurated on Sunday.