HWF held anWorkshop on Interest Free Micro-Finance

KolKata: The two-day residential state-level workshop on interest-free microfinance of the state W. Bengal was held on 6^th & 7^th December, 09 at Raigachi in Kolkata. The workshop, first of its kind in W. Bengal, was jointly organized by Human Welfare Foundation, N. Delhi and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, W. Bengal.

Forty two (42) persons from across W. Bengal participated in the workshop which was addressed by the two resource persons of the Task Force set up by the project VISION 2016 0f Jamaat-e-Islami Hind , Jb. Arshad Ajmal (coordinator, Task Force on microfinance) and Jb. M S Khan(member, Task Force) besides several luminaries of microfinance from W. Bengal such as Mr. Shah Alam, secretary, Amanat Foundation Trust (AFT), Mr. G M Shahid, state project coordinator, AFT and Dr. Manav Sen, civil servant & Director LOKO –Kalyan Parishad, W Bengal.

Jb. Rahmat Ali, President JIH, W Bengal, delivered the inaugural speech.

The workshop discussed all the topics essential for the capacity building of a practitioner such as: Concept of micro-finance; Formation of SHG; Legal Aspect of Multi-state co-operative societies; Techniques of Survey; Experience of the interest-free society, Al-Khair, Patna.

Mr. Arshad Ajmal while giving the outlines of this interest-free microfinance workshop told the participants that the two specific goals of the workshop were to achieve in two days i.e., to prepare a detail Roadmap of establishing microfinance institutes (MFIs) or at least SHGs in W. Bengal and to build the capacities of the participants so that they could conduct the surveys of the areas before launching Micro-Finance centers in their localities.

Mr. Ajmal clarified that the practitioners of this interest-free microfinance would not depend upon the external funding but the Model which is to be followed or practiced will be simply the system of general bank meaning it should be self-sustained. Microfinance is the alternative banking accessing those who are unbankable which consists of four components: Micro-deposit; Micro-credit; Micro-enterprise and Micro-insurance, he informed the participants.

Mr. M S Khan told the audience how microfinance could intervene in the economic system of the country which requires very small steps in the beginning but its effects are great. His deliberations focused around how capitalist economic system, over a period of time, led to a profound poverty and severe dissatisfaction of the needs of many individuals. The capitalist economy made 70% of the population inactive and the role of the poor people in the decision making process has become unimportant. Emphasizing the purpose of Deen-e-Islam he told the audience that when Prophet (pbuh) reached Madinah, he first established the Mosque as well as the Market.

The participants were made aware of the functioning of the interest-free society of Patna , Al-Khair Cooperative Credit Society and the three basic problems usually faced by the practitioners, Mr. A Ajmal told the prospective practitioners, were fund raising, how credit be given and to meet the recurring cost. He suggested the ways to address these three problems.

Mr. Shah Alam, secretary, Amanat Foundation, Kolkata shown his trusts’ activities through power point presentation. He addressed the workshop telling them how AFT was helping the widows by his microfinance center. He said basically Amanat Foundation is a non-profit making, non-govt. social voluntary organization working in the field of social mobilization being a partner of govt. Unicef, DFID, UK and other agencies in country and abroad started its journey in 1994.Amanat’s intervention in SHG-MF programme took place in 2005 as an emergence in responding to the substantial needs of poor and socially excluded section of the community. He informed the workshop that AFT had not emerged as an MFI from the beginning but gradually it turned its motion towards microfinance to work on an integrated approach of social development imperatives.

The project VISION 2016 of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has choosen Al-Khair model for microfinance practice because of its interest-free nature. This co-operative model of microfinance could be called as Imdaad-e-Bahmi in urdu and follows the rules of Co-operative Credit Society Act of the constitution of India.

The kind of workshop held in W. Bengal would also be organized in all states of the country as planned by the project VISION 2016, told Mr. Arshad Ajmal, coordinator, Task Force on microfinance. At the end of the day, there would be 500 institutes of interest-free microfinance spreading all over the country fighting poverty and hunger in its working areas by providing financial support to poor people for promoting their initiatives also empowering rural poor people for realizing their rights, raising voice and working on various social issues.

At the end of the workshop, the house requested JIH, W. Bengal to form a Coordination Committee for the establishment of Interest-Free Societies all over Bengal.

APCR holds Para-Legal Social Workers’ Workshops in Assam

Guwahati: Aiming at building of a nationwide network of grassroot legal social workers dedicated to using the legal system to defend rights of the underprivileged sections of the society, Association for the Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) organized two training workshops in Assam during 26-27 and 29-30 December 09 at Guwahati and Badarpur respectively. Inaugurating a two days workshop here in Guwahati on 26^th December 09, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed, Director, APCR urged that- “there is an urgent need to act beyond celebration of victimhood.” Until, we start using legal mechanism not only defend the underprivileged and oppressed sections of the society but also to bring culprits to the book of law, situation is not going to change, he added. Explaining the rationale of training of para-legal social workers, he argued- this is required for because of three reasons: Firstly, the increasing human rights violations demand enhanced efforts in the field, a group of activist at every level. Secondly, the existing human and civil rights groups are facing dearth of workers, especially the youths. And finally the suffering people need trained facilitators and crisis managers from their own locality and communities to avoid the over dependence on outside initiatives, which very often are not available in critical circumstances. This workshop is the first step to achieve the above mentioned target. Speaking in the workshop, Dr. Shyam Bhadar Mehadi, senior human rights educator and former representative of NHRC in Assam emphasized on the need of human rights education among general masses and asked the participants to carry forward this massage to remotest areas of Assam. A brief overview on Situation of Human Rights in India and how deal with it was presentation by Mahtab Alam, Coordinator, APCR. In his presentation, he informed the participants about various existing mechanism and its optimum utilization. A session on criminal justice system in India dealing with important issues and information relating to First Information Report (FIR), Arrest and Cases, etc. also held, in which Adv. Shanatanu Sarkar of Guwahati High Court, Mr. Ataur Rahman, former IGP of Meghalaya and Mrs. Baharun Saikia, member, Law Commission, Assam interacted with the participants respectively. This session was chaired by Mr. Rohini Kumar Das, Senior Advocate, Guwahati High Court. The workshop dealt with number of conceptual as well as practical aspects of human rights, judicial system, criminal justice, rights of detainees, Extra- ordinary laws and right to information, etc. Others who made their presentations at the workshop include Mr. Waliullah Laskar of Barak Velly Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), I H Borbora, RTI activist. A similar two days workshop held in Badarpur of Barak Velly as well during 29-30^th December 09. In both the workshops, more than seventy grassroots workers participated from far flung areas of Assam. Participants have been assigned a ten point follow up program for another six month which deals with conceptual as well as practical works. An ad hoc network of para-legal social workers has been also formed for the period six month.

Rikshaw Van distribution programme in West Bengal

5 Rikshaw vans were distributed among 5 poor people of Hoogly district of West Benga lon 09/01/2010

The distribution programme was presided over by the president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind West Bengal in the presence ofRabindranath Vattacharya, MLA of Singur Block, Mr Anil Kola- Secretary of Ma Sarada self helf group, Jb zulfikar Ali Gazi- regional coordinator , vision 2016, Abdul Aziz- State asst secretary ssw JIH WB.

Mr Rabinbabu the local MLA highly appreciated the policy of equality in Islam and the policy of self welfare with the welfare of the poor people.He promised to extend his all cooperation in future.

Abdul Aziz- asst sec ssw-west Bengal explained and introduced the VISION -2016 under Human Welfare Foundation.

Jb Rahmat Ali Khan sb –president of jamaat-e-Islami Hind said,”Due to dicrination and criminalization, people are being deprived from their basic fascilities. We should come forward to sort out all these problems and to stand by the poor people with our own capacity. Allah will not help us if we don’t help the poor.”

At last the AGREEMENT papers were signed and the keys of the vans were handed over to the following people:

1. Tara Ansari-Rishra, Hoogly
2. Raja Hossain, Rishra, Hoogly
3. Md Jamal, Rishra, Hoogly
4. Abdul Hamid, Champdani, Hoogly
5. Jahiruddin , Hossainpur, Hoogly

HWF Distributed scolorship in West Bengal

A Program held on 1 st January 2010 at NAVRAS Hall, 14 Royd Street, Kolkata-16. orgnised by Jamaat e Islami Hind W.B on behalf of Human Welfare Foundation (New Delhi). Scholership given to 27 students for higher studies given scholarship. Above Rs. 2 Lakh both cash & cheque handed over to the students before the media persons. . Ameer e halka Jamaat e Islami Hind W.Bengal jb Rahamat Ali Khan, renouned columnist jb Sayed Ali, Social activist jb Nasir Ahmed, jb Jamil Manzar, Member IDB Jiddah (estern Zone India), Jb Nizam Shamim, IPS chairman Wakf board W Bengal, Jb Qari Fazlur Rahman sb Emam-e-Edain, were present in the Scholarship Distribution Ceremony. Jb Rahmat Ali Khan sb and jb syed Ali sb given a short detail of H.W.Foundation, vision 2016 and its programe and activities and told the audience it is a Umbrella body of social and prominant intelectual. The main field of HWF is education, Health, Women empowerment, economic development of the Muslim community. Other distinguis speakers apreciated the activities of JIH and HWF. They assured thier cooperation with the development of this organisation

Malda Vocational Training Centre Inaugurated

Human Welfare Foundation New Delhi stablished a Vocational Training Centre in Baragachiya, Malda West Bengal. An Inaugural function was held on December 25, 2009.The programme was attended by several Distinguished personalities and Government officers. Its first session will be started from 21^st January 2010.Right now Plumber and Electrician Trades are being started. Through this initiative Foundation wants to develop technical skills among muslim youths. The programme was specially attended by The Deputy Majistrate Arun Ghosh , Asst Eng. Chanchal, Division Miss. Shibani Saha, BDO Chanchal Govind Datto Eng. Nurul Islam Dr. Rasheeduddin Medical Officer Chanderpura health Centre etc.

In a scholarships distribution program organized by Human Welfare Foundation (HWF) nearly 46 students were facilitated today in New Delhi. The students were awarded with an amount of 2,500 to 7,500 rupees. The scholarships were given to those needy and meritorious boys and girls who are studying Humanities and Social Sciences in universities and colleges of Delhi. Speaking at the function as Chief Guest, Mr. Siraj Hussain, former Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, urged the students to get involved in social activities to contribute for community and nation. “Being the future of the Nation and Community, it’s your duty to be aware, informed about problems and challenges and work for a better Nation and Community”, he reminded.

Rafeeq Ahmad, Treasurer of HWF said, “This is just beginning of the process of identifying and facilitating the needy and meritorious students of the community. Next installment of the scholarship will be released before end of this academic session.” “We have decided two facilitate students of Humanities and Social Sciences for two reasons- One, these subjects are very important both for the development of the Community as well as Nation and secondly, only few organizations are providing assistance for studying these subjects”. Presiding over the function, Mohd. Jafar, Vice-Chairman of HFW asked students to work towards excellence. He also urged the awardees to think and act for the betterment of community. Others who interacted with students include Maulana Abdus Salam Islahi, Secretary, JIH, Mr. Athar Kareem Qidwai and Mr. Omair Anas Falahi.

Prof KA Siddique Hasan IOL Stars 2009

http://interact.islamonline.net/English/interact/stars/2010/01/18/remarkable-role-in-serving-muslim-communities-stars/

Remarkable Role in Serving Muslim Communities’ Stars | IOL Stars 2009

In a series to be published, IOL Stars is recording with our stars for this year (2009/1430) to know more about their reaction to being selected as the stars of the year and to tell us more about their achievements.

H W T participated in Parwasi Bhartiya Diwas – 2010

New Delhi: Human Welfare Trust, New Delhi has participated in Parwasi Bhatriya Diwas Exhibition held on 7-9 January, 2010 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi to introduce the Vision 2016 at global level.The stall of Vision 2016 (HWT) was inaugurated by Mr. Vayalar Ravi, the Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Govt. of India.More than 500 NRI’s from U.S.A, Canada, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Indonesia and Gulf Countries, etc have visited our stall and the Exhibitors of Vision 2016 introduced about the activities and ongoing project to them. NRI Delegates expressed their pleasure to know about Vision activities and also showed solidarity with Vision 2016. Many people extended their helping hand for several project of Vision 2016. Flash presentation, brochures and design of our stall drawn huge attention of NRI‘s. More than 1000 brochures were also distributed in our stall.

This is the second occasion when Vision 2016 participated in this event. Last year in 2009 HWT has also participated in Parwasi Bhartiya Diwas Exhibition held in Chennai.Among the dignitaries, Mr. Omar Abdulla Chief Minister, Jammu & Kashmir, Mr. Ashok Chawan, Chief Minister Maharashtra, the Industry Minister of Madhya Pradesh visited our stall. Among notable NRI’s Mohammad Ali Galfar Mr. Mohammad Yusuf and Mr. Hamzah were the visitors of stall .More than 8 reputed NGO’s have participated in the Exhibition and they have also agreed to co-operate with Vision in common agenda