Greater: Bogor collects Rp 7.13 billion in alms

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The government-sanctioned National Alms Agency (Baznas) announced on Sunday that residents of Bogor collected Rp 7.13 billion (US$751,316) in zakat (Islamic mandatory alms), infak (liable donations) and sedekah (voluntary donations), a 30.85 percent increase over last year’s donations.

“Last year, we managed to collect Rp 6.61 billion, so the increase is quite significant,” said the head of the Bogor branch of Baznas, Endang Oman, as quoted by kompas.com.

He said that the donations were collected by the city administration’s zakat collecting units, mosques that are managed by Baznas, and schools through the program of Gerakan Seribu Cinta Untuk Senyum Sesama (A thousand loves movement for fellow smiles), which encourages students to help other students by donating at least Rp 1,000 on a voluntary basis.