In August 2019, there was a catastrophic flood in Kolhapur, which destroyed entire villages in the district. The decision to rebuild the dilapidated houses in Kanwad village in Shirol taluka of Kolhapur district was taken by the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maharashtra and Ideal Relief Committee Trust and the houses were handed over to the residents in a simple but dignified ceremony on March 14. Drug Administration and Textiles Minister Rajendra Patil and Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Singh Chavan assisted the victims.
The event was presided over by Rizwan-ur-Rehman Khan, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maharashtra. He said, “All men are the offspring of one parent. We have to work together in times of happiness and sorrow. This will end hatred that has spread among us. That is why we have built houses for our brothers.”
Rameshwar Venjane, SDPO of Jaisingpur, was the chief guest in the event. Zafar Ansari, Secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maharashtra; Moazzam Naik, Assistant General Secretary, Human Welfare Foundation, New Delhi; Aparna More Dhumal, Tehsildar, Shirol Taluka; Shankar Kavitke, B.D.O. Shirol Taluka; Salman Khan, S.I.O. South Maharashtra President; Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s Public Service Secretary Mohd. Mazhar Farooq; District Organiser Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Western Maharashtra; Nadeem Siddiqui, President Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Kolhapur; Anwar Pathan and Sarpanch of Kanwad Dr. Babaso Vanpal Arasgonda were present on this occasion.
Expressing his views, Maharashtra Minister of State Rajendra Patil (Yadravkar) said, “Members of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind have built houses for the flood victims, not to show off but to please Allah. They have served the victims irrespective of religion and nationality.”
Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Singh Chavan invoked the ideals of social harmony promoted by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and praised the initiative taken by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. He said that this initiative is a symbol of social harmony.
The event was held at Mrs. A. A. Patil High School, Kanwad at 11 a.m on March 14. The houses were handed over to 34 families along with basic and household items. They were provided with beds, cupboards, dining tables and chairs, kitchen utensils, mixer grinder and other basic household items. Also, the public service department of the Jamaat and the Ideal Relief Committee Trust worked to repair Urdu and Marathi schools in the village and make them usable. The Jamaat decided to make Kanwad an ideal village.
The foundation stone of these houses was laid on January 26, 2020. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on January 20, 2020 between Ideal Relief Committee Trust and Zilla Parishad Kolhapur for this project.
Jamaat Secretary for Public Service Department Mohd. Mazhar Farooq said, “We want to make this village an ideal village. Ideal villages are not only built with cleanliness, good roads, spacious houses and other facilities but people from all walks of life and communities should keep their minds open. Everyone should help each other. If we set an example of unity and solidarity, we will see a prosperous India in this village.”