Foodgrains to needy in Bengaluru amid lockdown

Bengaluru, April 10 (IANS) With prospects of the 21-day lockdown being extended beyond April 14, the civic body started distributing foodgrains and medicines to hundreds of needy across the city, an official said on Friday.

“Besides serving food to thousands of migrant labourers in 100 relief camps in the city, we are distributing foodgrains and medicines to the needy across the city, as they are without work and money to sustain during the lockdown,” the official told IANS.

The needy, including daily wage workers, street vendors, domestic servants, porters in markets and transport firms have been rendered jobless since the 3-week lockdown was enforced on March 25 to contain the coronavirus spread and business activities, including public transport have been suspended.

“Foodgrains worth Rs 25 lakh is being distributed directly to the needy in each of the 198 civic wards across the city so that they don’t have to go out in search of food or work as the lockdown is strictly enforced and none should go out of home,” said the official.

The state labour department and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are supervising distribution of food and essentials to the migrant labour and the needy supplied by scores of agencies, including corporates, non-government organisations (NGOs), trade associations, religious bodies and civic societies.

“To prevent the needy coming out and crowding at collection centres, foodgrains will be delivered at their doorstep. Even milk will be supplied free to them,” the official asserted.

Meanwhile, about 500 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets have started distributing food packets to daily wagers and street vendors in various localities in the city.

“About 5,000 cadets of the Karnataka and Goa directorate also volunteered to man helplines, call centres, distribution of relief materials, food, medicines and essential commodities to the needy and the migrant labour,” added the official.

–IANS

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