In the wake of the 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, Western Railway’s staff from various departments have displayed grit and commitment through their exemplary services. Western Railway has not only continued to work at large by ensuring that essential commodities may be made available across the nation in this difficult time. They are also taking extra special care for the needy and poor persons, who reside near various station premises by providing free food, care packages and masks to them by RPF & other staff.
With the Corona virus getting people to stop going to work and people facing shortage of financial and resources, IRCTC has geared up it’s base kitchens in Mumbai Central and CSMT stations for preparing distress meals in huge quantities for the poor and needy people in Mumbai. To begin with the simple Around 2000 Dal Khichdi Pickle Meals were distributed by Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation on the 29th of March,2020 from their Base Kitchen at Mumbai Central. These simple and hygienic meals in a 400 gram portion were made available for onward distribution through the channels of NGOs and Railway Commercial and RPF Departments to the needy/destitute /poor stranded amidst this Covid-19 epidemic.
Major NGOs involved were Salaam Mumbai, Future India Foundation and Robinhood Army. This socially responsible gesture on part of IRCTC shall continue in the forthcoming days also and the numbers are expected to rise. Alok Kansal, General Manager of Western Rly has appreciated these unique initiatives by Western Rly and IRCTC at various places. He also has stated that in wake of the pandemic Corona virus, all required and necessary safety and hygiene levels will be practiced to ensure zero error. It will be their endeavour to reach out to as many needful people and serve them.
According to a press release issued by WR CPRO Ravinder Bhakar, few railwaymen have themselves come forward to provide for the marginally poor by providing ration packages and cash. Setting a new example of outright righteousness & generosity, J.K. Sumara – TTI from Bhavnagar Division by providing food items worth Rs. 10,000 to licensed porters at Bhavnagar station. Each care package was worth Rs. 550 and each porter was also helped with a cash amount of Rs. 500 as well. Bhavnagar Division has also helped Junagarh station porters Shri Kanti Bhai and Shri Salim Bhai with of Rs. 1000 each.
The Western Railway Employees Union (Junagarh Branch) also came forward to help them with 5kgs of rice, 5kgs of bajra, 1 ltr cooking oil and few other essential food items. They were also provided with masks. Bhavnagar RPF also came forward in helping the poor by distributing 150 free food near the station and Bhavnagar City by maintaining social distancing. The food was prepared in DSC Res. Coy Barrack, Bhavnagar. RPF has distributed food packets to needy people at Vadodara railway station.
The RPF staff of Ahmedabad Division have also extended their hand to help the less privileged & people stranded due to the deadly Coronavirus lockdown. They distributed food packets, biscuits and water bottles among the poor while maintaining social distancing at Gandhidham, Bhildi, Ahmedabad, Maninagar and other places of the Division.
Bhakar stated that several NGOs and Trust Funds have extended their generosity to help the needy across the Western Railway jurisdiction. A local NGO distributed food packets to the poor near Rajkot station. Food packets were also distributed by FCI contractor to labourers at the Rajkot Goods Shed. Vadvala Temple Trust, Dhudhrej, Surendranagar distributed food packets in the circulating area of Surendranagar station.
IRCTC will be preparing 1000-1500 food packs from tonight at Ahmedabad base kitchen which will be distributed by collector Ahmedabad to needy hungry stranded people. The number will go up as per demand.
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