The Indian Railways has distributed food to more than 8.5 lakh people in 12 days through IRCTC base kitchens, Railway Protection Force (RPF) resources and the contribution of NGOs, in keeping with its social service commitment.
The Railway Ministry said that it continues to provide bulk cooked food with paper plates for lunch and food packets for dinner to the people who are stranded at different locations across the country after the 21-day nationwide lockdown announced to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19),
“Indian railways has so far distributed over 8.5 lakh meals to the poor and the needy since March 28 with the active cooperation of IRCTC base kitchens in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hubli, Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad, Bhusaval, Howrah, Patna, Gaya, Ranchi, Katihar, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar, Balasore, Vijaywada, Khurda, Katpadi, Tiruchirapalli, Dhanbad, Guwahati, Samastipur, Prayagraj, Itarsi, Visakhapatnam, Chengalpatu, Pune, Hajipur, Raipur and Tatanagar spread over various zones such as Northern, Western, Eastern, Southern and South Central,” the railway ministry said in a statement.
The food distribution is being done to the poor, destitute, beggars, children, coolies, migrant labourers and those in need of it. The move is taken following the suggestion of Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal who instructed officials to widen outreach of their efforts and go beyond the proximities of railways stations to deeper areas in consultation with district authorities and NGOs etc in providing food and other assistance to the needy people.
The ministry said that food distribution is being done with the help of RPF, GRP, commercial departments of zones, State Governments and NGOs.
General Manager and Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of concerned zone and division are also in continuous touch with IRCTC officials to enhance the outreach of these efforts of IRCTC even beyond the station vicinity to cater to the food requirements of needy people in areas surrounding the railway stations with the help of district administrations and NGOs, it said. .
“Over six lakh cooked meals have been provided by IRCTC and about 2 lacs meals have been provided by RPF from its own resources. Nearly 1.5 lakh meals have been donated by NGOs working with the railway organizations,” it reads.
“IRCTC has also deposited Rs 20 crore in PM care fund – Rs 1.5 crore from (Corporate Social Responsibility) CSR fund of 2019-20, Rs 6.5 crore from CSR fund of 2020-21 and Rs 12 crore donation.
Indian Railways remains fully prepared to provide food to the needy during the lock down, which has been imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it said, adding that adequate stocks of food grains and other raw material are being maintained.
