The COVID-19 lockdown gave birth to several organised kitchens across the country. However, a man from Telangana has been providing free food to those in need since before the lockdown.
For the past decade, Hyderabad-based Asif Hussain Sohail has been providing food through an organisation he established in the memory of his wife. Sohail founded the Sakina foundation in the memory of his late wife and daughter, reported news agency ANI.
"We've been doing it for the last 10 years, we serve food to thousands now as the number added up with time"Asif Hussain Sohail to ANI
Through Sakina foundation, Sohail found it easier to help out people amid the pandemic. He set up organised kitchens in different areas of the city. Around 200 people volunteered to help serve lunch to migrant laborers. Sohail is now planning on expanding the initiative through Telangana.
For Sohail, religion is no bar. He believes "hunger has no religion." He says he has seen people picking out food from the garbage and consuming it because that's how helpless they are and wants to change that. The Sakina foundation has also launched awareness programs for the safety of women and children.
One of the benficiaries of the initiative told ANI that on Fridays, the Sakina foundation serves Chicken curry and the rest of the days, they provide dal-rice. The food is served free of cost.
Hyderbad's west zone Commissioner, A.R Srinivas, recently reached out to Sohail with a Letter of Appreciation for his good work in the city.
(With inputs from ANI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)