Hyderabad: R. Manjunath, a catering worker from Bengaluru who now lives in Hyderabad, has found immense support through the ‘Kapda Bank’ (clothes bank). On his modest income, this middle-aged man has been relying on the bank’s free distribution of pre-used clothing for over eight years to save money for his family.
“This is my second time here, and I’m very grateful for their help,” Manjunath shared quietly as he presented his Aadhaar card at the center near Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS). “They gave me warm clothes just in time for winter,” he added.
The ‘Kapda Bank’ gathers donations from over 1,300 local contributors and a Canadian aid organization. Since its launch in 2016, the initiative has helped nearly 1 lakh families by distributing 5,75,000 packets of clothing. Its mission is simple: to provide free, pre-owned clothes to those in need.
“The idea originally came from a Canadian aid organization,” explained Shaik Akram and Eliya Fatima, who have been involved with the center since it opened. “In 2016, they supported us by sending five containers of used clothes. But during the lockdown, customs duties increased tenfold, which made importing clothes much harder. Now, we mostly depend on local donors,” they added.
Akram highlighted that this initiative is unique in Telangana and one of only two in the entire country. “The project is a collaboration between Faiz-e-Aam Trust, Helping Hands, and Siasat Millat Fund,” he said.
In addition to everyday clothing, the center distributes new clothes during festivals like Ramzan and Diwali, thanks to generous donors. They also provide other items such as pre-used utensils, school shoes and bags, toys, towels, blankets, bed covers, and even new wedding dresses for brides.
The center keeps things well-organized by storing clothes on size-specific racks. “We serve individuals who have white ration cards and Aadhaar cards,” Akram explained. “We maintain a database to ensure no one takes undue advantage by coming back multiple times in a month. Families listed on ration cards can receive clothing for their entire household,” he added.
Akram also noted that people from all walks of life have benefited from the Kapda Bank. “We give special priority to differently-abled individuals and senior citizens,” he said proudly.
