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Dawoodi Bohra Welfare Society to become credit society

Making a success of helping the needy

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by Nasir Javed●June 23, 2009

Dawoodi Bohra Welfare Society (DBWS) will soon be registered as a credit society. DBWS is an orgainsation founded and run by reformist Bohras in Udaipur. On the occasion of its 16th annual meeting at Bohra Youth Public School on June 20, 2009, Yusuf R.G said that DBWS was established 20 years ago to provide loans to poor students of the community on easy terms. Till date DBWS has 1254 active members.

Yusuf R.G. presented a balance sheet and annual account statement (2008-2009) of the Society audited by chartered accountants. The Society at present has a revenue of Rs 58,84,000 generated through membership fee, loans of Rs 51,34,000 are given to the members (to be paid back in easy installments) and liquid savings of Rs 1,21,000. He said that the Society so far has distributed Rs 1,30,000 among people affected by accidents or long term disability. Victims of natural disaster receive Rs 20,000 as aid. The needy people right now can get a maximum of Rs 1,00,000 as a loan on a very low interest rate.

The idea behind making it a credit society is:

  • To encourage new membership and investment in the Society
  • To be able to get maximum returns on investment
  • To be able to help more people with loans at a low interest rate

Commenting on the role of the society, Dr. Ajab Banu Mandiwala praised the work Society was doing and highlighted the transparency and accountability with which it was doing it. She said these were the two main reasons why people had so much faith and trust in the Society.

The president of Bohra Jamaat of Udaipur, Abid Ali Adeeb was the chief guest of the function. He emphasised that Udaipur Bohra Jamaat is in dire need of financial support. He said that various organisations of the Udaipur Jamaat are doing great social work and putting in a lot of effort with the limited funding they have. But in order to improve and expand we need greater financial help, he said.

There is no source of income for the Jamaat other than what members pay but expenses are mounting especially with the legal fees where thousands of rupees are being spent on court cases that reformists are engaged in with the Kothar. He urged reformists to make a donation to the Jamaat and at least start by donating just a rupee a month. This will go a long way in making things better, he said. He expressed his regret that private associations and organisations have completely stopped donating to the cause and urged them to reconsider their decision.

The function started with Tilawat-e-Quran by Janaab Mohammed Hussain Attarwala. Nasir Javed read the annual report of the Society and the minutes were passed unanimously.

The elections for the coming year were conducted and the following members were elected:

  • Hussain Udaipuri - President
  • Sarfarz Raj - Vice President
  • Aijaz Kaldar - Seceretary
  • Anwar Kharagurawala - Joint Seceretary
  • Tauqueer Sanwari - Treasurer

Hussain Udaipuri concluded the function by thanking the audience for their support and commitment.

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