The Indian Railways has distributed food to more than 10 lakh people till April 10 through IRCTC base kitchens, Railway Protection Force (RPF) resources and the contribution of NGOs, in keeping with its social service commitment.
“Meal distribution crossed the one million mark on Friday. The food distribution is being done to the poor, 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. While delivering the food to needy persons, social distancing and hygiene is being observed,” it said in a statement.
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, nearly 10.2 lakh cooked meals had been distributed till Thrusday, it said.
Of these, over 60 per cent cooked meals have been provided by IRCTC, about 2.3 lakh meals have been provided by RPF from its own resources and nearly 2 lakh meals have been donated by NGOs working with the Railway organisations, it added.
The RPF 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 people over 74 locations, the number has grown daily,it said, adding that approximately 6.5 lakh meals have been distributed by RPF over 313 locations.
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.