Here in ‘Anokha Mall’ poor people can take warm clothes or other items of their choice without any lag wrap. Donated by well-wishers, these clothes help rickshaw pullers, labourers, slum dwellers and other underprivileged sections of the society to beat the chill of the winter months, besides removing the barrier of being a ‘receiver’. Huh. The mall here in Rahim Nagar runs for three months, December, January and February, taking woollens from donors and putting them on display for the poor. This series is repeating for the last five years.
BUMS businessman Dr Ahmed Raza Khan, who runs the mall, told PTI, “Unlike other places and occasions when woolen clothes are distributed to the needy, the recipients usually hesitate to accept them. However, the unique mall In this, a person taking woolen clothes can easily enter as if he is entering a shopping mall, view and examine the clothes and then take them as per his choice.
Khan said that proper records are maintained of the donors as well as the recipients of the clothes. “This is done so that no one can take undue advantage of the mall helping needy persons. In the past, some people used to take clothes from here and sell them in the market,” he said. Apart from clothes, sandals, suitcases, Khan said the mall is also providing school uniforms, blankets and quilts for the poor.
He said that most of the donors are doctors.
He said that we ensure that the clothes and other items are clean and wearable. Khan said, “The mall is operated by a staff of four persons daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Last year around 3,000 to 4,000 people bought clothes from the mall.” laborers and slum dwellers,” he said.
On the name of the mall, Khan said, “Anokha means unique. It’s a mall where you can donate your clothes, take them away. And (most importantly) you’re not begging.” Khan said.
The 48-year-old initially said that it was difficult to get donors on board, but once they realized the true purpose of the initiative, they supported it wholeheartedly.
Bhaskar Singh, a resident of IIM Road, appreciated the concept and said, ‘Anokha Mall’ reminds me of the famous lines from Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s poem ‘Where the mind is bent, and the head is high’. It should be appreciated.”
Nishant, a resident of Vikas Nagar, wrote in a Facebook post, “Finally gave clothes to ‘Anokha Mall’. This is definitely a unique mall, as the needy need not raise their hand to beg. They can take clothes or shoes.” As per their choice, without becoming the subject of any camera and without paying any money.” Vijay Sonkar, a resident of Jankipuram Extension, also appreciated the effort and said that more needy people should be motivated to visit the mall. “It should be widely publicized,” said Sonkar, a government school teacher.
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