Third National Workshop of Muslim NGOs

New Delhi, 18^th Jan 2013: Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians (MOEMIN) inaugurated ‘Third National Workshop of Muslim NGOs’ at Indian Islamic Cultural Centre at Lodhi Road, New Delhi dated on Friday 18th Jan 2013.

The three day programme was organized in partnership with Rehab India Foundation, India Islamic Cultural Centre, Institute of Objective Studies, Zakat Foundation of India, South Asian Minorities Lawyer’s Association (SAMLA), Jamat e Islami Hind, Interfaith Coalition for Peace (ICP) and Abbasi Charitable & Educational Society. 

From Rehab India Foundation, Afsel Chandrankandy, Trustee, Safarullah Khan, Asst. Programme Manager, Azhar Ahmed, Finance Manager, Musarrat Warsi, HR/PR Manager, Naseerudheen A S, Asst. PR Manager, Muhammed Jabir M M, Project Coordinator, Insafudheen K, South Zone Project Manager and Sajid M S, North Zone Project Manager were actively involved in ‘Third National Workshop of Muslim NGOs’.

18^th Jan 2013:

Programme was kicked off by Quran Ayaat recited by Safarullah, Asst. Programme Manager of Rehab India Foundation. During the inaugural function, Justic Markandey Katju, Chairman Press Council of India, Justic Suhail Ahmed Siddiqui, Chairman NCMEI, Farah Naqvi, member NAC, Zafar, Safdar Khan, Chairman Delhi Minority Commission, Meem Afzal, Former MP shed light over the problems of NGO and what legal steps they need to take for empowerment of minority and strengthening of Muslim NGOs.

Second session was held post lunch and ‘Economic equality among Muslims’ was discussed. Chair of the session Zafar Agha, Member NCMEI and other speakers like Jawed Alam Khan, CBGA, Mazhar Hussain COVA, Safarullah Khan Rehab India Foundation discussed government policies, achievements and challenges.

During last session, Chair Abdul Raqeeb ICIF and Speaker Arshad Ajmal spread awareness and information on access to credit, micro financing, millennium development goals and Islamic banking.

19^th Jan 2013:

Second day of programme was kicked off by AAA Faizi, LBSNA. He discussed schemes of government of India, especially Ministry of Minority Affairs and Ministry of Rural Development.

Second session was held to discuss the present strata of education among Muslims. Justic Suhail Siddiqui,  Asadullah Khan, EDCIL, Muhammed Akhtarul Imam, Abrar Islahi, Muslim World League motivated 300 delegates that education is the most important tool to improve the condition of Muslims in India.  On this occasion, Justic Suhail Siddiqui said, “real beneficiaries are not getting benefits from government schemes due to lack of accessibility and understanding.”  To add to it, he said that we need to generate awareness of education among Muslims.

Next, discussion was held on ‘Health for All’. On Right to Food, Indraneel said, “if we compare India with other neighbouring Countries, status of India is not improved.  ‘The one of the causes is inaccessibility of government health care initiatives.”  To add to it, he said only 8% Muslim mothers got benefit of Janani Suraksha Yojana and 92%  Muslim Women are deprived of this scheme. On the same topic, Deepak OXFAM said, “Muslims are having sense of insecurity that’s why they are not focussing on their rights for education and health.” Shoib Lokhandwala, Movement for Peace talked about infant mortality and mother mortality rate among Muslim. Nafees Abbasi Treasurer Indian Islamic Cultural Centre and Alaudeen Prof. Jamia Hamdard continued and add more information on the same.

Last session was unlocked on ‘Women Empowerment and Child Development’. Uzma Nahid from Iqra International Women’s Alliance, Sadia Khan, Dipa Sinha and Asma Zehra moved this session with great energy. Working for Right to Food, Dipa Sinha said, “Malnutrition is directly associated with food and right choice of food.” Also, she said that right people are deprived of PDS (Public Distribution System) because they are lagging BPL Card. Asma Zahra Muslim Women Development Society said that children, women and old age people are victims of poverty. Working for Child Protection, Sadia Khan said, “We are having crab mentality. We need to improve our mentality.”

20^th Jan 2013

Third day of the workshop started with the session “Access to Information: RTI & other sources of Information” handled by Beyond Headlines Editor Afroz Sahil.  He encouraged delegates to make use of RTI for access of information.  

Including, Amirullah Khan, Deputy Director Bill Gates Foundation discussed Corporate Social Responsibility of their organization and how Muslim NGOs can apply to allocate fund from Bill Gates Foundation and other Corporate and PSUs. In this session, Amanullah Khan, Director Muslim Educational Trust, K K Upadhyaya, Director CSR, FICCI, Aquil Busrai, CEO Aquil Bursai Consultancy explained corporate social responsibility of their organizations.

Next session was unlocked on ‘NGO Governance’ by Osama Manzar, Director Digital Empowerment Movement and continued by Kamal Farooqui-FCRA.

Afternoon session started with the topic of “Human Rights Violation: Awareness and Responsibilities”. Adv. Yusuf Muchala Mumbai, Feroz Ghazi, SAMLA & Mehmood Pracha, Advocate, Mohd Shafi Popular Front of India and Md. Shafi discussed UAPA Black Law and fake encounters like Batla House Encounter. They emphasized that Muslim need security because major victims of riots are Muslims.