SOCH conducts warm clothes distribution drive

Aligarh:Aligarh Muslim University Students run, ‘SOCH-Beyond the imagination’ recently in a drive, conducted a camp for the distribution of warm clothes to the residents of a slum area near AMU’s IG Hall.The area for the distribution of clothes was identified after a pre-winter baseline survey by SOCH.
According to the survey, the residents of the slum area near the IG Hall are unable to fulfill their basic needs.
Dr Suhail Sabir, Chairman, Alumni Affairs Committee and Provost of Habib Hall, who attended the camp as the Chief Guest initiated this winter donation drive.While distributing clothes to the needy, Dr Sabir said that there is a need for continuous donation drives in proper ways.He added that major work, needs to be done in urban slums for providing basic facilities for people living in these areas.
“It is hoped that the government bodies will come forward for rehabilitation and proper settlement of slum dwellers,” said Dr Sabir.
Appreciating the efforts of SOCH, Dr Faheem Javed, Treasurer, Resident Doctors Association (RDA) said that the RDA will press for similar efforts regarding health and hygiene of the slum dwellers.Dr Kashif Razi, Department of Radiotherapy warmly welcomed the social upliftment projects initiated by SOCH. He stressed that such projects are indeed the need of hour.
Furqan Ahmad, Mohsin Hasan, Adil Naseer and Sartaj Alam said that they have collected used clothes in good condition for further use from donors to be distributed to the people, who sleep at footpaths.  While stating that slums usually grow due to improper urbanization, Dr Saleem Mohd Khan added that it is imperative that serious steps are taken for the settlement of migrated population in urban areas.
Yusra Khan (MSW) said that slums manifest the worst form of deprivation that transcends income poverty. “Slums are characterized by acute over-crowding, unhealthy and dehumanizing living conditions,” said Khan adding that slums are  
subject to lack of access to basic minimum civic services such as safe drinking water, sanitation, storm drainage, solid waste management, internal and approach roads, street lighting, education and poor quality of shelter.Dr Danish Suhail and Amood Gulzar thanked the volunteers, Thakur Vishant, Shawaiz Khan, Vinay, Rahil Khan, Ameer Hamza, Shariq and Sahiba along with others for their dedicated efforts for the drive and assured people for the further help. “Plans to open a bridge school for the slum children are also in consideration,” they added.