New Delhi, Feb. 27: Alhikmah Foundation organised a conference on, “Financial Well-being: An Essential for Nation’s Development,” marking its 31st Annual Function at India Islamic Cultural Center here Sunday.
Speaking as Chief Guest, Najeeb Jung, former Lt.-Gov. of Delhi and former Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, said, “What type of progress do we talk about if 20 percent of the population is economically disadvantaged and the minority group is experiencing financial hardship? The only way forward is education; if we are educationally empowered, we can achieve everything.”
“Without growth of Muslims, the development of India will be incomplete.”
He also emphasized that as a community we should honestly share the blame on our part for the situation we are in. The community should concentrate on education because it is only education that can empower us socially, economically, and politically. Instead of appeasement rhetoric, the government should create special program for minorities, the marginalized sections of society with affirmative action in order to empower them to become self-sufficient,” said the Ex-LG.
Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman of National Commission for Minorities, agreeing to the ideas put forward by Ex-LG, said, “For decades the governments have kept the minorities, especially the Muslims under the purview of insecurity and fear. Other minorities should pull them out of the sense of insecurity and concentrate on education, setting the stage of development and prosperity.”
Chairman of Himalaya Wellness Company, Dr. Syed Farooq, in his presidential remark, said, today we consider livelihood and education differently but both are same. Art of expression, Art of earning, Art of living are the three basic purposes of our education. We have to take along all three features of education for a better livelihood and better society.
Chairman of Alhikmah Foundation, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed said that the foundation has been committed for the creation of a healthy society for the last 30 years. The foundation is continuously working to achieve its four-point aims and objectives like creating a healthy and educated society, a society full of moral values and always striving for social welfare, he added.
Dr. Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmed, President of Interfaith Harmony Foundation of India; Usama Khan, CEO of Sahulat Microfinance Society; Professor Emeritus Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth University professor and economist Dr. Vishwanath Kumar also addressed the gathering. Syed Shoaib, Secretary of Alhikmah Foundation, presented a review report of the foundation.
During the program, a souvenir ‘Ilm wa Hikmat, Qur’an Ki Nazar Mein’, compiled by the chairman of the foundation, was released. About 15 students were awarded educational scholarships and sewing machines were provided to 12 women.
