For thousands of victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots, Hyderabad has become the second home. The city welcomed the victims of the riots with unparallel relief and rehabilitation schemes including special and customised sessions of counselling to help them overcome the psychological trauma and physical shock.

Hyderabadis spent at least `200 crore towards building pucca houses, providing education and setting up business establishments for the benefit of riot victims. Members of the Bohra, Ismaili, Memon and other Muslim communities migrated to Hyderabad and other parts of South India after the communal carnage in Gujarat. Several Muslim philanthropist organisations had taken up the responsibility of educating the children of the victims, and providing financial aid to open shops in Hyderabad.

A majority of the victims were rich, but their properties were destroyed by the rioters. Free legal aid was offered to help the victims fight for compensation and other legal cases including obtaining bail for innocent people lodged in jail on false charges. About 2,000 families had migrated to the city. In one single case, 100 families that had settled down in Gujarat for ages, had returned to their native village in Mahbubnagar district following the riots. A housing colony was built for them from the Zakat funds collected from Hyderabadis.

“Hyderabad is now my home and I have settled here with family. The Gujarat riots had left me penniless and had support not come from Hyderabad, I would have been on the streets now. Thanks to Hyderabad, I am well placed,” said a middle-aged businessman, who came to the city in June 2002.