Mamata hands out food items among pavement-dwellers

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday distributed essential food items among daily wage earners and pavement-dwellers, to ensure that they do not face any scarcity during the lockdown period enforced to check the spread of COVID-19.

Banerjee first went to Alipore where food items were distributed among daily wage earners including rickshaw-pullers. From Alipore, the Chief Minister visited a night shelter at Kalighat, where

she distributed the same among pavement-dwellers and vagrants, who are now staying at the night shelter.

Mayor Firhad Hakim and Commissioner of Kolkata Police Anuj Sharma accompanied Banerjee during her visits. Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has made an elaborate arrangement at Kalighat night shelter, where around 400 pavement-dwellers have been put up.

While visiting the places, Banerjee also spread awareness among people about the need of maintaining safe distance to check the spread of the disease.

In the past three days, the Chief Minister has visited places where there is possibility of maximum gathering, including hospitals and market places.

Apart from distributing masks and hand sanitiser at different hospitals in the city on Wednesday, she also created awareness among the people about the necessity of maintaining safe distance.

On Thursday she went to different markets and drew circles on road with pieces of brick to earmark the spots in front of vegetable shops where people should stand maintaining safe distance while procuring essential commodities. She had also distributed masks among people at Lake Market during her visit.

Policemen at areas under Beliaghata, Manicktala, Narkeldanga, Tangra, Entally, Ultadanga, and Phoolbagan police stations also distributed food among pavement-dwellers and vagrants. Interestingly, people were found standing in queues maintaining safe distance while collecting the food.

Bidhannagar Commissionerate has also taken up a similar programme at different areas under its jurisdiction.

On Friday, the state government has also given relaxation on movement of Childline staff, as they extend support to children in distress. However, they will have to produce their identity cards, similar to other essential service personnel. There will also be no restriction on movement of breakdown vans if used to support vehicles of essential services.

Meanwhile, state Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha wrote to KMC and all district magistrates to coordinate with employers of migrant labourers who are stuck in different parts of the state, "to ensure proper food and lodging besides regular payment of their wages so that they can procure essential items".