Handwara NGOs serve pre-dawn meals to patients in need

Handwara, Mar 29: To ensure that no patient goes without Sehri at Associated Hospital, GMC Handwara, two NGOs Jammu and Kashmir Action Group in collaboration with CRPP (Center for Research and Public Policy) set up a month-long free Sehri langar.
The initiative aimed to support patients and their attendants who struggle to find meals during the pre-dawn hours in the town, which has limited food availability at night.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Tawseef War, a member of the organizing team, highlighted the need for such an initiative. “Handwara is not a developed town where patients can easily access Sehri in hotels or restaurants. Keeping this in view, we decided to establish this langar under the leadership of Adv Mir Im-ran from CRPP and Mohammad Iqbal from JK Action Group,” he said.
The langar ran throughout the holy month, serving hundreds of patients and attendants. “By the grace of God and the generosity of the people, we success-fully conducted this langar. We know that people visiting hospitals often arrive in emergencies, without any time to arrange food. This was our small effort to ease their hardship,” said Adv Imran.
Mohammad Iqbal expressed gratitude to donors and volunteers who contribut-ed to the initiative. “This was only possible due to the collective support of our community. Many individuals stepped forward, offering donations and time to serve the patients,” he noted.
Dr. Sheikh Jamsheed, a local, praised the initiative, saying, “This is a remarka-ble effort by the NGOs. Many patients and attendants face difficulties in ar-ranging food, especially at night. Such acts of kindness reflect the true spirit of humanity.”
Local residents also appreciated the initiative. Sahil Rashid, a shopkeeper near the hospital, said, “This is a great initiative. People who come from remote are-as don’t have access to food, and this langar has helped them in their time of need.”
Several attendants of the langar expressed their appreciation. Manzoor Ahmad, an attendant from Kupwara, shared his experience: “My mother was admitted here, and I had no time to look for food at night. This langar was a blessing for us.” Rubina Akhtar, another attendant, said, “I came from a remote village. The langar saved us from the trouble of searching for food in an unfamiliar town.”
One of the patients, while expressing gratitude, said, “When I came here, I had no plan that I would get a Sehri to have my fast, but thanks to Almighty Allah and these people who made this possible that I can fast without missing Sehri.”