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Human
Development
Foundation |
Working Hard Reaping Gold
By: Arif Ahmed Sheikh – Social
Organizer HDF Karachi Region
Hashim (30) lives in the Mehran Colony
since 20 years (Katchi Abadi of UC-5
of Malir Town Karachi). Hashim was
owner of small grocery shop in Mehran
Colony and drawing very little profit
from his Shop and lived from hand
to mouth. When HDF started its work
in Mehran Colony in September 2002,
he was the first man who took the
lead role in his community and formed
the first Development Organization
(DO) named Baham Taraqiati Tanzeem
(Development Organization comprised
of 13 house holds representatives
of lane of their area). Recalling
his child hood memory Hashim stated
that:
“Some 20 years ago, when
we first came to this place, there
was nothing except very few Hamlets;
this was desert like area with bushes
and snakes. There was no basic necessity
of life like water, road, electricity,
hospital etc. Due to poverty and
non affordability to any other place,
we had no other option but to remain
here. My father started work on
daily wages in nearby localities
to feed us and educate. Some times
I and my younger brother also accompanied
our father to help him. As I was
growing up I kept all hard work
to improve my family’s economic
conditions and as well as our Katchi
Abadi- Mehran Colony. I worked very
hard for legalization of the colony,
water, sanitation and electricity
for the area. ”
Talking about HDF, he said:
“When I heard about HDF program,
I thought that HDF will give words/fact
to my dreams. That time, I was running
small shop and could not expand
it due to lack of sufficient finance.
I could not do it because I had
approached the different leasing
and financial institutions but their
prerequisites were such that I could
never meet it. But your (HDF) credit
program really made me amazed that
what I wanted has knocked me at
my doorstep and with no collateral
and difficult prerequisites. And
HDF’s education program was
also highly appealing and our community
needed it.”
After 4 months of DO formation and
regular fortnightly meetings, Hashim
requested credit of Rs.30, 000 for
his shop and a unanimous resolution
was passed by the members of DO. He
was granted credit of Rs.30, 000 and
from this amount he purchased different
items for his small grocery shop,
which is now a well established general
store. Now he is repaying his installments
in advance and more than the actual
due amount as per repayment schedule.
Hashim has also taken lead role in
formation of female DO, also helped
in the opening of three Community
Child Friendly School (CCFS) and recently
one male Adult Literacy Centre (ALC)
in the month of May 2003. Hashim has
been always in leading and initiative
taking gentleman.
In the leadership of the Hashim,
Baham DO is very enthusiastic and
committed to improve their life as
well as area. In one of the DO meeting
Hasim with his DO members told about
their future plans as:
“ Using the platform of
the DO we are planning to open the
Community Centre in Mehran Colony
which will comprise of dispensary,
technical training centre for both
Male and Female and a hall for the
different Community Ceremonies,
and above all we want to protect
and build our Social Capital.”
The Moral, Talent and Enthusiasm
of Hashim and his DO members reminded
me the one of the phrase of Iqbal’s
Zara Num
Ho To Ye Mati Bohat Zarkhaiz Hai Saki
- Iqbal
Date/Time Last Modified: 7/10/2003 5:21:56 PM
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