Migrants get iftaar, sehri kits at NMC shelter homes

Sarfaraz Ahmed | TNN | Apr 28, 2020, 04:31 IST

Nagpur: Around 30 Muslim migrants who are staying at NMC shelter homes across the city have been provided sehri and iftaar kits comprising fruits, dates and other eatables.
Of these, the needs of 15 are being taken care of by a group of women at Sadar shelter home.
The migrants were worried about not being able to undertake their annual month-long fasting, as only two meals are provided at the shelter homes. Having food at sehri (pre-dawn) is important, but the first meal is delivered only at 11am there.
Of the total 1,438 inmates, 52 are Muslims, staying at 23 shelter homes in the city. But 20 chose not to observe fasting because of lack of arrangements to feed them at sehri time.
Neerja Pathania, who along with her friends is looking after shelter homes at Government Polytechnic hostel and Tuli College, said that plenty of food, fruits and snacks are being provided to all.
“We have around 130 inmates at GP hostel in Sadar and 111 at Tuli College near Lonara. Only 15 Muslims are at Sadar. We were aware that they will be needing food, juices and fruits during Ramzan. We are seven friends who are making individual contributions like milk, cakes, bread, butter, fruits and dates,” she said.
Pathania added that Bharatiya Jain Samaj is providing meals for all inmates.
The Muslim migrants are from Bareilly and were put up at the shelter homes around 25 days ago.
Pathania said the Muslims are allowed to offer namaz and others ensure that TV viewing or other entertainment activities are stopped during this time.
Besides Pathania, her friends Neha Patel and Jalpesh Katkoria are rendering their services at the shelter homes, under the guidance of NMC deputy municipal commissioner Ranjana Lade..