Vijayawada Division distributes 2.5 Lakh free hot cooked meals to the needy and migrants during lockdown

Vijayawada Division distributes 2.5 Lakh free hot cooked meals to the needy and migrants during lockdown including 54,500 meals to  migrants on board  Shramik Specials 

In the wake of the nationwide lockdown being imposed across the country till 17th May, 2020, to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, Vijayawada Division of South Central Railway along with IRCTC have come together to provide food for the needy during this critical period. As part of this, starting from 30th March  2020, Vijayawada Division along with IRCTC in collaboration with local NGOs like Amruta Hastham, Sarah foundation, Karuna Eye Foundation, Nimble Women Welfare Society & Yuva Vikas NGO have distributed 2 Lakh free hot cooked meals to the needy, migrants, daily labourers, old age homes amongst others several locations of Vijayawada and its precincts till 02nd May, 2020. Vijayawada Division tops the list in terms of total free food distribution till date, in the entire zone of South Central Railway.

From 02nd May, 2020 Shramik Specials are being run by Indian Railways to carry stranded migrants to their native states. 46 Shramik Specials running through the Division were supplied with 54,500 meals by IRCTC Base kitchen, Vijayawada along with water bottles, paper plates and spoons etc. IRCTC has provided foods like Tamarind Rice, Veg Pulao, Sambar rice & Curd Rice, Upma, Chappati, Kurma & Pongal neatly packed in tin foils to all the migrants on board of Shramik Specials made. Utmost care was taken to prepare Food in a hygienic way adhering to the quality standards. Food packed in tin foils and water bottles was distributed by Railway Protection Force and other IRCTC staff to migrants on each coach separately to prevent crowding and by adhering to strict social distancing measures. An average of 1150 meals was distributed by IRCTC, Vijayawada to each Shramik Special plying through Vijayawada everyday.

Shri P. Srinivas, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada said that the Division has played a pivotal role since the start of the lockdown in maintaining the supply chain and logistics of essential goods such as food and medicine to even remote locations of the country. He particularly appreciated the IRCTC, Commercial and RPF personnel for undertaking the distribution of food packets to the migrants on trains & needy people in the city precincts. DRM also complimented the Operating team for running the Shramik Specials on the Division with punctuality to ensure speed & safe arrival of migrants at destinations.