Bhubaneswar: More than 23,000 poor and needy persons have been served food at different railway stations under the jurisdiction of East Coast Railway (ECoR) in the last 10 days as the country is in a lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
As per the directions of Ministry of Railways, ECoR has taken steps to provide bulk food with paper plates at different important stations in its jurisdiction through Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) base kitchen at Khurda Road and Food court at Visakhapatnam in the wake of CORONA virus crisis.
All the agencies of ECoR including RPF have also been involved in a big way in the food distribution to the needy people in station areas in ECoR jurisdiction. These apart, different NGOs, ECoRWWO (ECoR Women’s Welfare Organisation), Railway employees have also come forward to distribute food.
From Lemon Rice in the South to Khichdi-Chokha in the East and Kadi Chawal in the North, Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is serving variety of meals keeping in mind the local taste buds of the people since the lockdown was announced.
Starting with more than 250 meals from March 26 at Puri Railway Station and 200 meals from March 27 at Cuttack Railway Station by Railway Protection Force (RPF), IRCTC has taken care to distribute food to needy people in ECoR jurisdiction w.e.f. March 30, 2020.
Till April 6, 2020, IRCTC has distributed 16,400 meals which are being prepared from Khurda Road base kitchen and Visakhapatnam food court. Altogether, IRCTC has prepared and served 16,400 meals till date from March 30, 2020.
Different NGOs like Marwari Yuva Mach, Kumud Pahad Surakhya Samittee, ECoRWWO/Sambalpur Unit have also been involved along with RPF in distribution of 729 meals at Sambalpur, Titilagarh, Balangir Stations.
Food packets/Meals are also being distributed to the needy people at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Brahmapur, Paradeep, Khurda Road, Visakhapatam and Viziaagaram Stations by involving IRCTC & NGOs.
