Raipur district administration has begun soliciting the support of the people through ‘Donation on Wheels’ to provide food to the poor during the ongoing lockdown. This noble initiative is garnering huge public support. NGOs and individuals are voluntarily participating and contributing in this campaign.
People are contributing either with cash or packets of foodgrain, pulses and other essentials.
“Our Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel moved by the amazing response in the capital has suggested the concept be replicated in other districts,” said Raipur collector S Bhartidasan.
Those unable to provide raw food packets can donate Rs 350 from which rations are procured.
District Administration Raipur is also collecting contribution of dry ration from various households. Any citizen can participate in this noble work.
Lockdown for prevention of Corona virus (COVID-19) infection had thrown many people into hunger and malnutrition. The problem was severe among daily-wager families, disable and destitute people.
Hence, to save them from unavailability of food, ‘Donation on Wheels’ campaign has been launched.
The programme is actually a brain child of three IAS officers namely IAS Dr. S. Bharathi Dasan (District Magistrate, Raipur), IAS Saurabh Kumar (Commissioner, Raipur Municipal Corporation) and IAS Gaurav Singh (CEO, Zila Panchayat, Raipur).
Through ‘Donation on Wheels’, Chhattisgarh government and Raipur Municipal Corporation collected raw food from people who are capable enough to donate.
Our work is going on a war footing,” asserts Dr. S. Bharathi Dasan, adding that “the initiative has been an unprecedented success and the program is working on an expanded network of strategic partners who are working on this cause to leverage resources”.
Commissioner, Raipur Municipal Corporation Mr. Saurabh Kumar said that “We are getting positive response from the people of Raipur. “We took this initiative to mitigate the problem of food Scarcity”.
Raipur Zila Panchayat CEO Gaurav Sigh added that – Our donation drive was not just about going and collecting food. The drive also focused on sensitizing families on the importance of hand washing, social distancing, the importance of the quarantine period and basic personal and public hygiene behavior,”. He also added that “Till now, through the collection made by Donation on Wheels, we have distributed it to around 40 thousand needy persons and our team has also planned for a second phase distribution of 40 thousand packets.
This program was initially started in Raipur district with a mission to improve the food scarcity in the area, health and lives of people affected by poverty during this emergency without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. This ‘Donation on Wheels’ assistance program is being tailored to the circumstances and needs of the districts most vulnerable and poverty stricken population. This targeted assistance is being provided in a manner that respects and involves the people served during this lock-down
(This is sixth part of the special series on Government officials role in combating the covid 19. Click to read the full series.)
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