The income of the Zakat Fund has increased substantially in the month of Ramadan and donations during this period amounted to around 60% of the whole year’s donations.Jassim al-Kubaisi, chief of the Zakat Fund, said yesterday that last year the fund collected QR150mn, while QR80mn was collected during Ramadan alone. The transparency policy of the fund has gained the trust of donors and the donations are on the increase, he added. The income of the fund this month amounted to QR18mn until now with a 7% increase. There are also direct bank accounts that account for tens of millions. The fund also made the donation process easier for donors and there are more outlets to accept their donations at various locations.Al-Kubaisi said that the fund has distributed bank cards in co-ordination with Masraf Al-Rayan to around 2,000 beneficiaries out of 14,000 to replace the old food coupons that used to embarrass the needy when used at the shopping outlets. The card does not have the logo of the fund.The next step is to put the amount of money allocated for each beneficiary in the bank accounts directly. He also stated that the card system was initiated this Ramadan and work is going on to collect the data of the remaining beneficiaries.The fund has various projects to help the needy, with costs totalling QR20mn, such as the food and clothing programmes and funding the education of the needy students at all levels, as well as funding the treatment, especially abroad. Education funding takes a major chunk of the amount.Though almost 95% of the fund income is spent on charity activities inside Qatar, a considerable amount of donations are directed to help other afflicted areas in the Muslim world. So far donations for the droughts victims in Somalia amounted to QR2mn, with expected increase in the coming days. These were delivered in co-ordination with the entities working there.Al-Kubaisi said that the fund accepts donations round the clock and accommodates contributions for specific purposes. For example, some donate to mosque buildings or want their donations directed to certain organisations or activities. The fund caters to all in co-ordination with the parties concerned. Asked about the complaints of some needy that the fund asks them to provide certain documents that costs them money and time, he said that it is the responsibility of the fund to make sure that the money goes to the right beneficiaries and the fund asks only for the minimum documents that prove the status of the needy.