By Mahmood Asim, TwoCircles.net
Dr. Baig in his clinic
Jaffarabad, Delhi: “I expressed my agitation in front of Prime Minister and I was let go without charge, this is the goodness of my country, but at the same time freedom of expression by stifling my voice, has been violated before them and they let it happen, this is something to be worried about,” said Dr. Faheem Baig when TwoCircles.net met him recently in his clinic in Jaffarabad in Delhi.
Dr. Baig who has a degree in Unani system of medicine shot into fame recently by shouting in front of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the launching of National Waqf Development Corporation (NAWASCO) in New Delhi.
“This is not the first time I protested for the cause,” said Dr. Baig to this correspondent recalling his work for the welfare of the humanity, “in 1997 I observed one day fast to console the spirits of martyrs of Amar Nath Yatra, and from then on to work for rights of poor citizens specially minorities, and even collected funds for Kargil War victims and handed over to the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.”
For the last four years Dr. Baig has written more than 150 letters to the PM but have not received a single acknowledgement and this he said prompted him to speak out in front of the Prime Minister when opportunity presented itself.
blocked & open drain and garbage just in front of Madrasa Babul Uloom
Graduated in Unani Medicine from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Mr.Faheem said that the politics on the basis of beard, turban and tilak must stop immediately; we have to fight for the rights of poor in this country. Thirty-seven year old Faheem launched a movement called ‘Meri Awaaz Suno’ after the incident of that day and registered protest at Jantar Mantar along with 150 people on 9th of February after PM’s promise to meet failed repeatedly.
General Secretary of Resident welfare Association (RWA) since 2005, he has been working for the betterment of area. “Till date I get done more than 2000 Electricity Meters, 500 Ration Cards and thousands of Aadhar Card in order to avail the facilities from government by the poor,” claims Dr. Baig.
“My main concern is how the already existing schemes should be implemented specially 15 points PM Programme to empower minority instead of launching new one such as NAWADCO and others. I filed many RTI to know the status of minority schemes, Prime Minister 15 point Programme and funds of Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) whether implemented or not but most of the department have not responded properly and one response gives the details mentioning that no amount has been spent over the schemes to uplift the minority.”
Flyover and garbage
Faheem shifted from Indrelok area of Delhi to a Muslim dominated backward town of Northeast District of Delhi, Jafrabad to serve the community in its upliftment. He set up his clinic in the same area. This town and adjacent Seelampur are some of the worst places in the city. Overflowing Drains, piles of garbage, badly maintained sewer system, electricity cuts, bad condition of roads, hospitals, aganwadi, midday meal in the schools and low maintained education quality and system are the integral part of the area.
“When we visit government hospitals, officials shoo us away and do not behave well,” said Seema who is resident of Jafrabad to TwoCircles.net. “What little development you see here is just fruit of efforts being done by the residents of the area, government contribution is less than one percent,” said Mohammad Dawood, Deputy Rector of the Madrasa ‘Babul-Uloom’ that also runs computer centre with a capacity of 148 girls, centre for tailoring and knitting etc for around 150 girls and a Madrasa for 242 students including of 162 hostel residents.
Just in front of Madrasa open drains which overflow after every 3 days and cause chaos for people who come to offer Namaz. “We have to pass through dirty water in order to go for Namaz, but worth mentioning thing is here construction done by Metro Authorities with no precaution and security measures taken, dust of construction even shattered thrice the polythene curtain of Masjid, no watering at all that causes many diseases to the old people like me,” said a senior resident of the area. When asked whether this pathetic condition because of this area is predominantly Muslims, the response was more fierce “ Congress is more biased, see very adjacent colonies such as Geeta colony , Maujpur Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh are Hindu dominated area where you find smooth road and everything even five times watering by Metro Authority during construction” he added.
Chaudhri Mateen Ahmed has represented this area in Delhi Assembly
“Chaudhri Mateen Ahmed , a leading Muslim face of Congress, is MLA from the region for many years and J.P Agarwal, Chairman Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee is MP from the same constituency, we are facing sewer problem since 20 years but no improvement at all, I have not voted for them this time” said Nazim, one of the resident of Jafrabad to TCN.
“If it rains, water enters into the houses, electricity goes off, we queue up in the night for portable water, there is no facility that comes regularly,” said Babli, a resident of Janta Colony.
But there are some residents who think citizens are also party responsible for the pathetic conditions. “There is dustbin set by government but nobody bothers to use it and put the garbage on the road and drains which leads to spreading of diseases,” said Danish who is a painter and lives in the same colony.
One of the main educational institutions of area is Zeenat Mahal S.K Vidyalaya, with a capacity of 5030 girls students in the morning shift but same school turns into a Boys Senior Secondary Urdu Medium School in the evening which has 2950 students in its rolls. Most of them belong to Muslim Community. “There are many students who work before or after the classes, there is lack of awareness towards education in the mind of the guardians” said Aas Mohammad, a teacher in the school.
Urdu medium school with no sign in Urdu
There are 32 guest teachers and 49 permanent. Approximately 2700 students learn Urdu language but only seven teachers are there to fulfill the job and all of them serve as guest teachers. “ This school was established in 1977 but I am not able to recognize that the people of the area are educated, all schemes of government are being implemented and government is doing well but guardians are not aware of importance of education” said Ram Avtar, Principal of the school.
Majority of the people in the area work in the garment sector doing tailoring of jackets and jeans and other low class trades but they are not supported by government to empower them “we don’t receive cooperation from the government, even urinal facility is not available for traders who come from outside” said Advocate Khursheed Ahmad, General Secretary of Jafrabad Traders Associations.
150 letters and a scuffle with the security personnel has not weakened Dr. Baig’s resolve. He is yet to meet the Prime Minister but Dr. Baig remains optimistic. When asked whether he think any change will come from his meeting the PM since many like him meet him every day. Dr. Baig responded, “we should be hopeful, dair se hi sahi kuchh na kuchh to hoga hi. (something will happen even if it is delayed).”
Banner supporting Dr. Faheem Baig
Link:
http://twocircles.net/2014jan29/delhi_doctor_stands_put_forward_grievances_vigyan_bhavan_ushered_out.html