Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Indian Railways which started providing cooked meals to needy people after the lockdown due to COVID-19, continues to provide bulk cooked food with paper plates for lunch and food packets for dinner through IRCTC base kitchens, RPF resources, and contribution of NGOs, in keeping with its social service commitment.
The food is being distributed among the poor, destitutes, beggars, children, coolies, migrant labourers, stranded persons, and whoever else comes in search of food at and near the railway stations, and even at some distances away from the railway stations. This is in keeping with the suggestion of Railways and Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal who had said that Railways should widen the 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.
Distribution of food is being done with the help of RPF, GRP, commercial departments of Zones, State Governments and NGOs. While delivering the food to needy persons, social distancing and hygiene is being observed. GMs/DRMs of Zone and division concerned are also in continuous touch with IRCTC officials to enhance the outreach of these efforts of IRCTC 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.
Railway has distributed over 8.5 lakh meals to the poor and the needy since March 28, 2020, with the active cooperation of IRCTC base kitchens in New Delhi, Bangalore, Hubli, Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad, Bhusaval, Howrah, Patna, Gaya, Ranchi, Katihar, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar, Balasore, Vijaywada, Khurda, Katpadi, Tiruchirapalli, Dhanbad, Guwahati, Samastipur, Prayagraj, Itarsi, Vishakhapatnam, Chengalpatu, Pune, Hajipur, Raipur, and Tatanagar spread over various zones such as Northern, Western, Eastern, Southern and South Central, and help of RPF, other government departments and NGOs, according to a PIB release.
Over 6 lakh cooked meals have been provided by IRCTC and about 2 lakh meals have been provided by RPF from their resources. Nearly 1.5 lakh meals have been donated by NGOs working with the Railway organisations. The Railway Protection Force has played a major role in the food distribution to needy people prepared by IRCTC, NGOs and from its own kitchens. Starting with distribution of food to 5,419 needy persons over 74 locations on March 28, 2020, the number has grown daily. Approximately 6 lakh needy persons had been distributed food by RPF over 313 locations till April 8. 2020. Meal distribution by Indian Railways is in progress to close to 1 lakh persons on April 9, 2020.
IRCTC has also deposited Rs 20 Crore in PMCARES fund – Rs 1.5 Crore from CSR fund of 2019-20, Rs 6.5 Crore from CSR fund of 2020-21, and Rs 12 crore donation.