Chandigarh: In a gesture befitting the grandeur of khaki, cops in Punjab have embarked on a new initiative, not to catch the goons but to extend support to those hit hard by menacing Covid-19. They are delivering cooked food at their doorsteps, writes Rajeev R of Bureaucrats India.

Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Dinkar Gupta said that COVID canteens have been established in every district and the police teams will ensure the delivery of cooked food to Covid-19 affected families in the state. 

He said that any Covid-19 patient lacking access to food can dial 181 or call 112 at any time of day or night, for delivery of cooked meals at their doorstep. While delivering food items, the police teams also inquire about the well-being of families, besides offering them any other help they require, said the DGP.

The move came a day after Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh declared that no one will sleep hungry in the state amid the Covid-19 crisis and started ‘Bhojan Helplines’ including 181 or 112 for delivery of free cooked meals at doorsteps of poor or underprivileged Covid-19 patients living anywhere in Punjab through the Punjab Police department.

Worried as there was no access to food after nine members of the family tested Covid-19 positive and have been home isolated, Palwinderjit Kaur, 38, a resident from village Rajindergarh in Fatehgarh Sahib dialled 112 with a request and the police party immediately reached their home with the required food.

“We were in dire need of food items. When I got to know that the Punjab Police was delivering food to the Covid-19 affected families, I called up 112. I thank the Punjab Government and Punjab Police for starting this humanitarian initiative amid the crisis,” said Palwinder.

She is not the only one who availed the home delivery of the food. The Punjab Police on Friday received at least 70 such calls on ‘Bhojan Helplines’ with requests for cooked food after which over 100 food packets were delivered to doorsteps of Covid-19 affected families across the state.

Deepak Arora from Patiala, whose wife and two sons tested positive and there was no one to cook food in the home, also took help of the Bhojan Helplines. Deepak, while appreciating the initiative of the Punjab government, said that in such difficult times, when even relatives and friends are afraid to come to us for help, the police are providing food at our door steps. 

Neeraj from Ludhiana, who along with his wife, daughter and brother tested positive, also expressed gratitude to the Punjab government for providing them the required food items.

It is worth mentioning that during the first wave also, the Punjab Police had converted its 112 emergency helpline into a ‘Hunger Helpline’ and the department had, in active collaboration with NGOs, Gurdwaras, temples and other religious institutions, successfully served over 12 crore cooked meals and dry rations to the people of Punjab during April-June last year.

Meanwhile, impressed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Abohar, Rahul Bhardwaj, who was seen personally visiting Covid-19 affected families to deliver free cooked food at their doorsteps, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh called him up and appreciated the good work being done by him. The Chief Minister also encouraged him to carry on this humanitarian work. /BI/