‘Ways and means’ is a term as old as the history of modern edifice of governance. The successful- and thus envied- models of governance, whatever thegoverning political ideology, have come to lead because their creators dared to come out of the blind alleys. Cul de sac has never deterred them nor dissuaded them from moving forward. The way forward is finding ways and means whenever a tricky situation arises that has no easy escape (or forward-movement) routes. In the governmental frameworks, in large parts of the world, full-fledged departments like ‘Organization and Method’ (O & M) and ‘Ways and Means’ are optimally functional round the year. They don’t allow the systems of governance or the governments to go stagnant. Unfortunately, however, these crucial most compartments of vibrant governance are ‘flying at half-mast’ in many parts of the world. This lethargy would have been tolerable to some degree within the contours of a country but when it comes to addressing severe humanitarian crisis on a global scale, putting ‘ways and means’ on the backburner, is extremely intolerable, rather inhuman. The world is witness to this ‘tyrannical’ lethargy in theatres of conflicts, war and strife like Yemen, Syria, Kashmir, Lebanon and other such strife-torn places in the world of today. Have the globally acclaimed, high profile welfare organizations done sufficient humanitarian work or provided timely, suitable assistance to the hapless persons facing abject misery in these ill-fated areas? The answer to this question is a big ‘no’. Even the oft-praised organizations like ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) failed to perform. By all standards, this acquiescence amounts to tacit acceptance of bestialities committed by the high and mighty or by the movers and shakers of war economies. Had the people manning these organizations (which usually make tall claims of ‘serving the suffering humanity’), been blessed with tender hearts and love for the ailing ones and for the downtrodden or for the oppressed ones, they would have found ways and means without taking refuge behind lame excuses like stringent restrictions, siege, military clampdowns, exchange of fire and what not. In the midst of this ever-worsening ordeal, I have heard a news item which makes me believe that humanity is not dead, as yet. The news is about a UK-based aid agency, ‘Muslim Hands’ that has taken up such daunting challenges and found ways and means to help the humanity in distress without any prejudice for colour, caste or creed. Take, forexample, their aid activities undertaken in Indian Occupied Kashmir where barely any welfare organization has ever thought of helping the people injured with gunshots, pellets and other acts of aggression. This region has witnessed years of political instability and conflict. Moreover, since August 5, 2019, a mass lockdown has left families vulnerable and unable to leave their homes. What inspired me to write about this group of humane individuals led by Syed Lakhte Hasnain, was their courageousness to penetrate into the theatres of conflict and provide humanitarian assistance without any fear or prejudice ‘Muslim Hands’ is perhaps the only aid agency or one amongst the very few, which has been on the ground in Anantnag and Pulwama areas of Kashmir since the beginning of the crisis. Their (‘Muslim Hands’) partners on the ground have over 25 years’ experience of providing door-to-door aid in Kashmir, even in the worst affected areas. Where possible, the aid agency and its partner deliver larger distributions in more rural and remote localities. And, as the food and medicine stocks were about to deplete, in came speedy and sizeable donations from thousands of philanthropists who repose a lot of trust in Muslim Hands and its Chairman, Syed Lakhte Hasnain. This helped a lot in providing emergency food parcels and essential medicines like insulin to the affected families besides facilitating the uninterrupted running of ambulance services in vulnerable communities. Providing necessities in disaster-struck areas is one thing but more important is proper identification and prioritization of the compelling needs so that the available resources (donations and whatever) are distributed among maximum number of the people in trouble. In this area, I have come to know that ‘Muslim Hands’ has introduced some pragmatic schemes that are easing the lives of people facing misery. For instance, these schemes include: Sponsoring orphans for education, healthcare and shelter. In the area of education, the aid agency is paying for online classes, for now, using 2G, since 3G and 4G aren’t available due to current restrictions in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Other schemes beneficial and urgently required for human survival, include: ‘Build a Water Well’ for provision of safe, clean drinking water in addition to making arrangements for proper disposal of human waste. Building Tube Wells and Community Wells in Kashmir are parts of this project that also aim at keeping the womenfolk from safe, lengthy journey to fetch water. What inspired me to write about this group of humane individuals led by Syed Lakhte Hasnain, was their courageousness to penetrate into the theatres of conflict and provide humanitarian assistance without any fear or prejudice. The impetus to write these lines was provided by the Government of Pakistan’s decision to award a very prestigious award, Sitara e Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) to Syed Lakhte Hasnain. I think all such torch-bearers of humanitarian co-existence, need to be awarded and recognized. In the past, the conferment of awards was not always transparent (in some cases, as exceptions are always there). I am reminded of a biggie’s conversation a few years ago, during the incumbency of former government. Actually, that biggie in the former government gave me an indication about three years ago that I was being considered for some ‘hi fi’ civil award in acknowledgment of my widely read columns. I was taken aback, given my reclusiveness and hatred for lobbying and sycophancy which make some people think that I am a misanthrope. Of course, it is quite unfortunate that many of our awards are ‘earned’ through connections or flattery. Some others think that like-mindedness is another factor that brings such bounties. But, exceptions are always there, I mean, genuine exceptions. Lord has blessed us with many exceptional people whose invaluable services rendered towards their compatriots are immeasurable. Some of them work across the frontiers as their canvas is humankind especially the suffering humankind.’ Muslim Hands’ is one such exception which, I think, believes in one thing that salvation for all lies in peaceful co-existence. The writer is a senior journalist and TV analyst