Starving labourers seek help from community police

Aurangabad, May 12

The condition of poor people and daily wage labourers hit hard by the corovirus-induced lockdown and restrictions cannot be explained inwords. Many are starving and calling the community policing cell at the police commissionerate for help. The number of such distress calls is increasing day by day.

Many generous donors have come forward to help the poor during the lockdown last year. However, this time around, the situation is different.

Strict rules were imposed in the city as part of the ‘Break the Chain’ initiative, followed by night curew and strict lockdown. The people earning bread and butter on a daily basis had a severe jolt due to the lockdown. Several labourers, maids and daily wage workers suffered and it has become challenging for them to sustain livelihood. They have used all their savings and now there is a question of their survival, they said.

Last year, several donors came forward and helped such people by giving grocery kits. Some people provided cooked food directly to people. This year, as there are no donors, people are starving. Some are surviving on Shiv Bhojan facility.

PI Kiran Patil and constable Nirmala Nimbhore of the community policing cell at the police commissionerate are receiving several calls from people requesting for grocery kits. Some are also asking for employment.

Several calls are received from Padegaon, Railway Station and other slum areas. Under the guidance of senior officer, constable Nimbhore, Priyanka Sasande, Shruti Nandedkar, Shital Mundhe and others are meeting generous people and asking them to help the needy.

The government is providing wheat and rice to the poor people from the fair price shops, but many people do not have ration cards and hence remain deprived of this benefit.