NGO EDUCATES PEOPLE ON HYGIENIC DISPOSAL OF SKIN

Islamic seminaries in the city have stopped employing people to collect the skin of sacrificial animals offered at donations. The proceeds of the skins were auctioned off were used to manage the day to day expenditure of the institutions.

As a practice, after the animal is sacrificed, Muslims divide it into three and distribute it among friends, relatives and the poor. The skin or fur is donated to Islamic institutions.

“This year we have no plans of going around colonies to collect the animal skin. I don’t tell it is a wasted effort but we are spending more money to go around and collect the skin,” said Maulana Abdul Raheem, head of an institution. A city based organisation ‘Team Bakrid’, a network of several voluntary groups is encouraging those who celebrate Bakri-Id to dispose of animal waste generated after the ritual sacrifice in a hygienic manner.

The organisation headed by Mohammed Illyas Shamshi, a khateeb (one who delivers Friday sermon) has been working on this issue for the last two years.

“In the last two years we have expanded our network from the city to at least three districts in Telangana state. Moreover we have taken up awareness campaigns in various schools and colleges too,” said Illyas Shamshi.

According to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials, approximately about 2,200 metric tonnes of animal waste is generated over the three-day festival.

Team Bakrid is making announcements in mosques across the city to spread the message and is also using social media — Facebook and Internet — enabled messaging services too to educate people about hygienic disposal of waste.