Saniya Anjum/Bengaluru

Back in 1974, the 13-year-old Tazaiyun Oomer from Bengaluru was visiting the Parliament House during a Bharat darshan tour when she spotted Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She was among a few students who managed to get her autograph, and that moment gave her a brush with and a sense of leadership.

Decades later, that same girl would lead thousands of women and children to empowerment, education, and dignity through her non-profit trust, Humane Touch.

Born into a Kutchi Memon family in Bengaluru, Tazaiyun grew up in an environment where tradition and enterprise intertwined. Her father ran a textiles shop, and as a young woman in the 1980s, she began helping him with the business.

Tazaiyun Oomer with Humane Touch brides

For women of her community at that time, entering business spaces was rare, even frowned upon. But the exposure gave her not only confidence but also a sense of independence. She would later recall the experience as her first taste of breaking barriers.

With a Master’s degree in English Literature, Tazaiyum developed an interest in education. In school, she volunteered in the “opportunity section” for children with special needs. She prepared charts in Braille and engaged with children with intellectual disabilities. Those moments left a lasting impact, planting the seeds for her later work in rehabilitation and inclusion.

In 1999, Tazaiyun founded 'Humane Touch', an organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of the specially-abled children. She provided callipers, supported corrective surgeries, and created opportunities for integration for these children. Over the years, more than 100 children benefited from corrective surgeries.

Tazaiyun Oomer receiving Nari Shakti award

In 2000, she established an Adult Education Centre in Gauripalya, a locality often misused by political interests. By bringing literacy to adults, she opened doors for empowerment that extended beyond the classroom.

In 2004, she founded Al-Azhar School, offering quality education. That same year, she launched one of her most innovative ideas—mass weddings. At a time when marriage expenses were crippling many families, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds.

Tazaiyun introduced the concept of community weddings supported by trust and dignity. Over 21 years, the initiative has facilitated 1,750 marriages, providing not just ceremonies but also post-marriage counselling, support from mosque committees, and mediation to ensure harmony in married life.

In 2007, she launched Lifeline Foundation to focus on Muslim women’s entrepreneurship. So far, it has empowered over 2,000 women with opportunities, training, and resources. The Foundation distributed sewing machines, launched skill-development programs, and financial literacy workshops for women.

Tazaiyun Oomer with meritorius students who were awarded scholarship by Humane Touch

If there is one thread that runs through all of Tazaiyun’s initiatives, it is education. Humane Touch provides scholarships for nearly 300 students every year, with a special emphasis on girls from middle-class families. Many of these young women are now working in high-tech companies, breaking cycles of dependency.

Tazaiyun recalls her interaction with a family abandoned by its head. The mother struggled to raise three daughters and a son. With support from Humane Touch, the son pursued medicine, eventually becoming a doctor. Today, not only does he support his family with pride, but he also contributes generously to the very foundation that once helped him.

Her greatest satisfaction, she says, comes from medical aid initiatives. “Medical help is life-saving,” she says. “Gratitude in the eyes of patients and their family members makes all the effort worthwhile.”

Tazaiyun has faced her share of challenges. Winning the trust of donors and ensuring transparency for beneficiaries has been a delicate balance. Community dynamics, too, posed hurdles. “Many men in the community find it difficult to accept women in leadership roles. They cannot always see women thrive,” she admits.

Yet, she also discovered a strong ally in women themselves. Many of them, often uneducated, responded eagerly to opportunities once they saw that change was possible. The COVID-19 pandemic was another setback, slowing down progress and pushing vulnerable families further into distress. But even in those times, Humane Touch found ways to support communities with dignity.

Tazaiyun says her aunt Rabia Razack, mother of Irfan Razack of the Prestige Group, supported her by showing interest in her work. Family support, particularly from her maternal lineage, gave her the strength.

As Secretary of Humane Touch, Tazaiyun continues to dream big. One of her upcoming projects is a “finishing school” that will impart professional skills to young people and make them confident professionals. She envisions changing the perception about women and children within her community.

She believes that true empowerment lies in giving people the ability to sustain themselves with dignity, not just survive on aid. Humane Touch, she envisions, will continue to be that bridge between compassion and empowerment.

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Her advice to women who want to do social service: “Do not wait for perfect circumstances. Change begins the moment you decide to act. Trust Allah, and trust yourself. The rest will follow.”