Cops launch drive to help mothers & children in need of medical assistance

Kolkata: The Birbhum District Police has launched a new project for rendering dedicated service for mother and child who might be facing difficulties during the lockdown period in Bengal.

The project titled 'Matri Sneha' has been launched in some police station areas in the district and will be extended further.

"We have been receiving a number of calls in our helpline number about people facing difficulties of various types during the lockdown. There were calls regarding children not getting milk, baby food, medicines and the inability to go for immunisation or unable to reach a doctor for treating ailments. So we decided on a special service to serve the children and mothers in this situation," said Shyam Singh, Superintendent of Police, Birbhum.

It is often difficult for mothers to venture outside homes leaving their children alone at home and considering the lockdown period when transport is limited it has become a burning problem.

Moreover, it is admissible to remain inside homes as much as possible to stop the spread of COVID-19.

"We have two phone numbers 7602675311 and 7602675322 which are manned by women cops. If somebody calls with any sort of children related problem, women cops in a white dress will rush to the doorstep of the caller for necessary assistance. The service is being made available round the clock," a senior police officer said.

The project that was rolled out on April 14, is now covering ten police station areas – Siuri, Sainthia, Dubrajpur, Bolpur, Rampurhat, Nalhati, Santiniketan, Mayureshwar, Muhammad Bazar and Khoirasole. It will be extended to the remaining 14 police station area in the district in the next few days.

Within this short span of time since its launch, apart from rendering services to children in trouble, there have also been calls when family members called expressing their inability to take a would-be mother suffering from labour pain to the hospital during night time. The police team has acted promptly and done the needful.