Firdous Khan/Gurgaon

Aslam Khan, a resident of Gurugram, was taking his mother to different hospitals for treatment of her cancer when he noticed the helplessness of the poor patients who neither had the money nor information about treatment.

Moved by their plight, he founded the Haryana Anjuman Charitable Trust, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to support the poor and the orphaned.

The NGO was founded in 2000, the same year Aslam Khan’s mother was diagnosed with cancer.

Aslam Khan with underprivileged children

After founding the NGO, Aslam Khan shared his idea with people. Most of them appreciated his intention and expressed readiness to join him in this noble mission.

The Haryana Anjuman Charitable Trust was registered in 2003, and gradually, people came forward to support this humanitarian mission.

The trust opened a dispensary in the village of Chakkarpur in Sector 28, Gurugram, for poor and needy residents. The locals were entitled to free medical treatment, medical consultations and medicines.

Through word of mouth, its reputation spread, and people from distant areas began visiting for treatment.

To meet the rising costs, the donors responded generously. With these contributions, an ambulance was purchased. Available 24 hours a day, it transports critical patients and is also used as a hearse when required.

Aslam Khan says, “Our goal is to open a large hospital equipped with all essential facilities for serious patients. We also aim to establish a major educational institution where children can receive both religious and modern education so that they can keep pace with the changing times.” From time to time, the trust organises free medical camps, offering services such as blood sugar testing.

Beyond medical support, the trust has expanded into other initiatives. During winter, it distributes warm clothes, blankets and quilts to the poor, providing much-needed relief to struggling families.

New Gurugram had no Muslim graveyard, forcing families to carry their deceased loved ones far outside the city for burial.

The trust took up the issue and approached the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for land allotment. HUDA allotted a prime parcel of land in Sectors 56/58.

A school run by Aslam Khan's NGO

The trust developed the graveyard, arranged water and electricity connections, and built boundary walls. This initiative resolved a long-standing problem for the Muslim community.

The trust also takes responsibility for the burial of unclaimed bodies. The deceased are bathed, shrouded and buried according to Islamic traditions, with the trust handling all arrangements.

In cases of accidents with dismembered bodies, the Trust buries each corpse with dignity and due religious rituals. Organs removed in hospitals for medical procedures are also interred here in a designated space as per Islamic practice.

Recognising the community’s need for a mosque, the trust again approached HUDA for land allotment. The request was approved, and land in Sector 57 was allotted.

A Medical camp for young students

The trust paid the required amount and constructed the mosque, naming it Anjuman Jama Masjid. Regular prayers began soon after, and the Friday congregation draws large crowds. Special arrangements are made during Ramadan for iftar.

The trust looks after the upkeep of the mosque. To resolve persistent electricity and water issues, it installed a 25 KVA silent generator. All of this has been achieved through community support.

The Haryana Anjuman Charitable Trust also runs a free literacy centre for poor and homeless children at Anjuman Jama Masjid in Sector 57. Along with Urdu and Arabic, children are taught Hindi, English, Mathematics and Science.

The centre emphasises holistic development, imparting both academic learning and moral values. Special programmes are organised on Independence Day and Republic Day to honour martyrs and freedom fighters.

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The trust also prioritises children’s health by organising free medical check-ups. On Eid, children receive new clothes and shoes so they too can celebrate the festival with joy.