For Abu Aimal, journalism serves as a medium through which he can help the needy:

Abu Aimal

Abu Aimal Akram Ali is a 42-year-old freelance investigative journalist from Hyderabad. But unlike other journalists, his work is not just to report for the sake of it. But he lives through the stories and tries his best to uplift them from their tragedy if it is under his control

Abu Aimal, an independent journalist who also runs a news channel on YouTube, recently visited some of the pawn shops in the old city of Hyderabad. He found that on average 15 burqa-clad women are visiting each ‘rahen centre' every day to pledge their gold and borrow money on interest to run their house.

Abu Aimal spoke to such women and on finding out about their plight, he even requested them to not give in to their gold at such high-interest rates. After this, he and his volunteers visited their homes and distributed money and ration. He has also cleared the articles pledged by some women by paying the amount to the pawnbroker.

"Poor people hardly own any gold. And what little they own the women pawn it for a small amount of money which they can never repay because the rate of interest is high and by the end of a year or more, they will have lost it," he explained while talking to Clarion India.

In the 15 rahen centres Abu Aimal covered in two days he found that around 600 women had visited them to pawn something or the other.

The items being pledged by them are generally a pair of earrings or finger rings that hardly costs a substantial amount. But they end up paying more than they borrow, he said. It is a debt trap. Some women are also borrowing to meet medical expenses.

"The Government is not concerned about the poor", said Abu Aimal with dismay. "It is always the NGOs of the city that have stood up for the poorest of the poor. Be it floods, oxygen shortage or lockdown, we have not seen much action from the government. So, it is futile to expect anything from the government," he added.

Prior to freelance journalism, Abu Aimal was associated with Munsif & Siasat Daily of Hyderabad. Abu Aimal is known for his comprehensive coverage of issues that brings in the eyeballs and manages to attract an audience. He is sure to keep on doing such work and bringing the truth to light.

To know more, follow him on:

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LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/abu-aimal-a976221a6

Twitter- https://twitter.com/abuaimal?lang=en

Website- www.azadreporter.com