US based Indian Muslim relief and charities distributed monthly ration under its “Ramadan Feeding Program”, among 2680 families in three states of Jaharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.The food grain packets were distributed among laborers, daily wagers, orphans, widows, poor and needy.1380 families were covered in IMRC Ramadan feeding program in Barabanki, Deoria, Saharanpur, Aligarh and Siwan of Uttar Pradesh, whereas 1300 families benefitted in bordering districts of Bihar and Jharkhand.Shahzadi Khatoon from village Maigra in Gaya District of Bihar . Her husband is a daily wager, toiling hard to earn, so that he could provide his family with a two square meals.Ramadan is like a struggling season for both husband and wife as due to fasting, it is very difficult to work under the intense heat of Bihar, which could lead to heat stroke, thus making situation more complicated.“For poor people like us, the struggle for grains continues throughout the year and even it continues during Ramadan. Because due to low earning, we are not able to save, which we could spend during Ramadan,” says Khatoon.
Travelling west from Bihar to another Indian State of Uttar Pradesh, the situation goes more grim.Hajra Begum from village Chaugawan of Bijnor District of UP, in her mid forties is physically handicapped and her husband was the only support for her, all through these years, but he died some months ago.“Being handicapped, I can’t walk and earn. I am living a life in abject poverty. I totally rely on help from others, sometimes it come and sometimes it doesn’t,” says Hajra.Now Zubaidah Bibi, Shahzadi Khatoon and Hajra Begum don’t have to worry about food grains during the month of Ramadan.“I feel a great sigh of relief. I can only say that Allah has come to my rescue. May Allah shower mercy on those who provided me with grains,” said Hajra Another widow Raisa Begum, a septuagenarian from village, Qasba Seohara of District Bijnor, U.P was in tears, when she received the IMRC grain packets.“She profusely thanked God and those, through whom God sent these packets of food to her. Her married daughter who is equally poor was also given ration for whole month of Ramadan,” recalled IMRC UP Volunteer, Naushad Ansari.Importantly, this year, IMRC “Ramadan Feeding Program” has been extended to 22 Indian states, where thousands of families have been provided with food grains for the whole month of Ramadan and in some states, the distribution is under process. IMRC is also organising Iftar’s in these three states, where more than 20,000 persons including labourers, widows, poor and needy are being served with hot meals.