Srinagar, Jan 02: In a heartwarming initiative, ‘Apparel for Poor,’ started by a group of dedicated doctors, aims to provide winter clothing to those in need during the harsh winter months. Launched six years ago by MBBS students of the Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM) Department at GMC Srinagar, this initiative has been a source of warmth for many amid the chilling cold of Chilai Kalan.
Dr. S. Muhammad Salim Khan, Head of the Community Medicine Department at GMC Srinagar, initiated this compassionate winter drive, and it has been making a significant impact over the past six years.
“The ‘apparel for all’ initiative was started during winter while we took medical students to such areas for family studies mandated by the National Medical Council and found various families living in penury and facing hardships of harsh winter cold weather,” Dr. Khan explained.
Medical professionals involved in the initiative identify individuals in need who lack the means to acquire fresh winter clothing, ensuring they stay warm during the bone-chilling cold in the Valley. This effort is particularly crucial during the 40-day intense winter period of Chilai Kalan, marked by the highest likelihood of snowfall.
Initially, the initiative began by collecting clothes among the doctors within the Community Medicine Department and later expanded to include contributions from doctors across GMC Srinagar.
“Seeing the initiative going on in a right perceived way, we made a public request through social media platforms, and we have got sufficient support across the community,” Khan said.
Under this unique initiative, the team collects both new and old but wearable winter clothes, categorizes them by age and gender, and then distributes them among deserving individuals identified through ground-level workers.
“This clothes distribution exercise involving medical students not only benefits the recipients but also helps in inculcating empathy and compassion among the medical students who witness real-life situations in the community,” emphasized the senior doctor. “We thank our donors who trust us, and we ensure it reaches the deserving people,” he added.
Dr. Khan highlighted that this initiative provides students with insights into the socio-economic conditions of the community, fostering philanthropic and social service behavior among them.
“It also develops philanthropic and social service behavior among them and teaches them how to reach out to people,” Khan said.
Encouraging community participation, Dr. Khan appealed to people to donate their extra clothes, emphasizing that many individuals in the valley have unused clothes at home. “Many people come forward and give us clothes at the department. I appeal to people to donate the cloth to help the needy,” he urged.
Affirming that it is a mission that will continue, Dr. Khan shared that the group recently distributed clothes in many areas of Srinagar, earning appreciation from the local community.
He concluded by stating that the doctors and medical students are determined to assist deserving families in surviving the harsh winter through the warmth of donated clothes. “Through this initiative with the help of the locals, we help deserving people survive the tough weather through the warmth of warm clothes,” he affirmed.
