Ajmal Foundation
{{COI|date=May 2025}}
{{notability|date=May 2025}}
{{Short description|Non-governmental Organization}}
{{Infobox organization
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| formation = {{Start date and age|2005|paren=yes}}
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| type = Non-profit organization
| status = Private
| purpose = Charity
| headquarters = Hojai, Assam, India - 782435
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| region_served = Assam
| services = Modern Education, Relief and rehabilitation, Skill Development, Women Empowerment,Environmental Awareness etc.
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| leader_title = CEO
| leader_name = Badruddin Ajmal
| board_of_directors = Dr. Khasrul Islam
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| website = https://ajmalfoundation.com
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Ajmal Foundation is a non-governmental organization established in 2005, in the Hojai district of Assam, India, that works for social services including education, health, employment, environment, women empowerment,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india-56365254|title=बदरुद्दीन अजमल कौन हैं, जिन्हें बीजेपी नेता असम का 'दुश्मन' बता रहे हैं?|date=March 12, 2021|website=BBC News हिंदी}} and poverty management.{{Cite web|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/other-states/guwahati/ajmal-foundation-gave-50-concession-in-fee-for-sc-st-in-assam/articleshow/83722941.cms|title=असम में एससी, एसटी के लिए शुल्क में अजमल फाउंडेशन दी 50 फीसदी की रियायत|website=Navbharat Times}}
History
The NGO was founded by Member of Parliament of India, Badaruddin Ajmal on 2005 at Hojai, Assam, India.{{Cite journal |last=Nath |first=Monoj Kumar |date=2019-04-21 |title=Muslim Politics in Assam: The Case of AIUDF |journal=Studies in Indian Politics |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=33–43 |doi=10.1177/2321023019838648 |s2cid=159324656 |issn=2321-0230|doi-access=free }}
Overview
The Ajmal Foundation established 25 educational institutions,{{cite news |last1=Agha |first1=Eram |title=Number of Students Clearing NEET Exam After Coaching From Ajmal Foundation's Increases from 11 to 80 |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/number-of-students-clearing-neet-exam-after-coaching-from-ajmal-foundations-increases-from-11-to-80-2977391.html |access-date=18 May 2022 |work=News18 |publisher=CNN-News18 |date=18 October 2020 |language=en}} schools, and hospitals.{{cite news |last1=Chakravarty |first1=Ipsita |last2=Saikia |first2=Arunabh |title='Minority communalism is costly': A polarising debate on citizenship makes Assam's Muslims cautious |url=https://scroll.in/article/920335/minority-communalism-is-costly-a-polarising-debate-on-citizenship-makes-assams-muslims-cautious |access-date=18 May 2022 |work=Scroll |publisher=Scroll.in |date=18 April 2019}} Some of such institutes are Maryam Ajmal Women's College of Science and Technology,{{cite news |last1=Imam |first1=Manzar |title=Maryam Ajmal Women's College bags top two ranks in Assam HSSLC 2020 exams |url=https://ummid.com/news/2020/june/26.06.2020/maryam-ajmal-womens-college-bags-top-two-ranks-in-assam-hsslc-2020-exams.html |date=24 June 2020 |language=en}}Nazir Ajmal Memorial College of Education, Ajmal Law College, and Ajmal College of Arts Commerce and Science.{{Cite book |last=Padalkar |first=Ravindra |title=Ruling Dynasties of Independent India |publisher=Notion Press |year=2021 |isbn=9781637147993 |language=en |chapter=Assam}} The NGO also runs a free educational coaching programme, "Ajmal Super 40".{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Abhijeet |title=Dehradun: Free coaching institutes help poor kids crack NEET |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/free-coaching-institutes-helping-kids-of-rickshaw-pullers-daily-wagers-crack-neet/articleshow/78850365.cms |access-date=24 May 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=25 October 2020 |language=en}}
Beyond educational activities, the NGO is also doing other charitable works. In 2020, the Ajmal Foundation donated 10 computers to the Asam Sahitya Sabha.{{cite news |last1=Zaman |first1=Rokibuz |title=Sabha, Ajmal prod on Assamese |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/asam-sahitya-sabha-ajmal-foundation-prod-on-assamese/cid/1739350 |access-date=19 May 2022 |publisher=The Telegraph (India) |date=24 January 2020}} In August 2019, the Ajmal Foundation donated Rs 10 Lakh to Assam Chief Minister's Relief Fund for flood victims.{{cite news |title=Rain pounds Siang, relief in Assam |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/rain-pounds-siang-relief-in-assam/cid/1695661 |access-date=19 May 2022 |publisher=The Telegraph (India) |date=1 August 2019}} During the lockdown period in 2020 for COVID-19 outbreak, Ajmal Foundation donated Rs 2 Lakh to Khalsa Centre (North-East).{{cite news |last1=Zaman |first1=Rokibuz |title=Foundation donates Rs 2 lakh for food |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/coronavirus-lockdown-ajmal-foundation-donates-rs-2-lakh-for-food/cid/1770899 |access-date=19 May 2022 |publisher=The Telegraph (India) |date=6 May 2020}} In 2021, Ajmal Foundation donated Rs 58 lakh to Assam Chief Minister's Relief Fund for COVID-19 vaccination in Assam.{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Fatima |title=AIUDF's praise for BJP is baffling, says Assam Congress as it severs ties with Ajmal's party |url=https://theprint.in/politics/aiudfs-praise-for-bjp-is-baffling-says-assam-congress-as-it-severs-ties-with-ajmals-party/725413/ |access-date=24 May 2022 |work=ThePrint |publisher=ThePrint |date=31 August 2021}} The foundation also provides financial aide to ailing journalists and artistes.{{cite news |last1=Thakuria |first1=NJ |title=Ajmal Foundation Offers Financial Supports To Ailing Scribes |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/672609/ajmal-foundation-offers-financial-supports-to-ailing-scribes.html |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=Modern Ghana |publisher=ModernGhana |date=3 February 2016 |language=en}}
The NGO also provided Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of each of the six people who were killed during the Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Assam in 2020.
Controversies
In December 2020 an RSS-backed organization Legal Rights Observatory filed a complaint against Ajmal Foundation with an allegation that the Foundation received funds from international groups linked to terror outfits.{{cite news |last1=Parashar |first1=Utpal |title=AIUDF chief's foundation booked for receiving foreign funds with alleged terror links |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/aiudf-chief-s-foundation-booked-for-receiving-foreign-funds-with-alleged-terror-links/story-vuGUnP7iTpF5TTC6H72KGM.html |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=4 December 2020 |language=en}} Denying the allegation, the Assam State Jamiat Ulema submitted a memorandum citing "Such propaganda has created misunderstanding and wrong conception among common people on Ajmal Foundation to demoralise its creative and charitable activities."{{cite news |last1=Hasnat |first1=Karishma |title=Assam's Jamiat seeks CM's intervention to stop 'propaganda' against Ajmal Foundation |url=https://theprint.in/politics/assams-jamiat-seeks-cms-intervention-to-stop-propaganda-against-ajmal-foundation/568250/ |access-date=19 May 2022 |work=ThePrint |publisher=ThePrint |date=16 December 2020}}
The Director of the Ajmal Foundation Dr. Khasrul Islam admitted that most of the funding to the NGO comes from the United Kingdom but refuted the allegation of any terror link. Dr. Islam said, "Most of our foreign funds come from the UK under strict compliance of the FCRA regulations and are used in social, education and relief works. A false impression is being created about our foundation based on incorrect information."{{cite news |last1=Choudhury |first1=Ratnadip |title=Case Against Ajmal Foundation For Foreign Funds "Traced To Terror Groups" |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/assam-case-against-ajmal-foundation-for-foreign-funds-traced-to-terror-groups-2334664 |access-date=19 May 2022 |work=NDTV |publisher=NDTV |date=5 December 2020}}
Awards
- Best NGO-Skill Development Award 2015: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).{{cite news |date=4 August 2015 |title=MoU signed between Meghalaya and Ajmal Foundation on skill development |work=The Economic Times |publisher=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/mou-signed-between-meghalaya-and-ajmal-foundation-on-skill-development/articleshow/48346984.cms?from=mdr}}
References
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External links
- [https://www.ajmalfoundation.com/ Ajmal Foundation website]