Dr. Ahmed Raza Khan, who runs the mall, said, “At other places and occasions, woolen clothes are distributed to the needy and where people generally hesitate to accept them. On the contrary, a person wanting to buy woollens can enter Anokha Mall as if he is going to shop in a shopping mall and get measured for clothes, shoes etc. of his choice.” According to Khan, Anokha Mall maintains proper records of donors as well as recipients of clothes, shoes etc. He said, “This is done so that no one can take undue advantage of this mall helping the needy. In the past, some people took away clothes from here and sold them in the market.” According to Khan, clothes, sandals, suitcases, school uniforms, blankets and quilts are also being provided to the poor at Anokha Mall. He told that most of the doctors are involved in donating in the mall.
Last year 4 thousand people were given clothes
“We ensure that the clothes and other items are clean and usable,” said Ahmad Khan. He said, “Anokha Mall is manned by four employees from 10 am to 6 pm daily. Last year around 3,000 to 4,000 people bought clothes from this mall. Most of the cloth takers are rickshaw pullers, laborers and slum dwellers.” Talking about the name of the mall, Khan said, “Anokha means unique. This is a mall where you can donate and take away your clothes. The most important thing is that here you do not spread your hand in front of anyone.
People praised Anokha Mall
The 48-year-old Khan said initially it was difficult to motivate people to donate clothes, but once he realized the true motive behind the initiative, he wholeheartedly supported it. Lauding the initiative, Bhaskar Singh, a resident of IIM Road said, “The unique mall reminds me of the lines from Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s famous poem ‘Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high’. This initiative should be appreciated.” Whereas, Nishant, a resident of Vikas Nagar, wrote in his Facebook post, “Finally donated clothes at Anokha Mall. It’s definitely a unique mall, as the needy are on hand to beg. They can take whatever clothes or shoes they want without being the subject of any cameras and without paying anything.
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