GUWAHATI, April 26 - The Railway Women�s Welfare Organisation of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has been giving free meals to the needy and distributing masks among these people who are facing problems on account of the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown.
�Indian Railways is making all-out efforts to supplement the healthcare initiatives of the Government of India. In this direction, Indian Railways is producing masks and hand sanitizers in-house in all its zonal units, production units and public sector undertakings (PSUs) as these items are of great necessity during this crucial period. This is in addition to the various other measures being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19,� said Subhanan Chanda, chief public relations officer of NFR.
�Along with that, Northeast Frontier Railway Women�s Welfare Organisation (NFRWWO) has undertaken humanitarian efforts at various locations. NFRWWO has produced and distributed over 5,700 masks and provided meals to 500 needy persons,� he said.
Chanda said several other NGOs such as Khalsa Centre North East and NECPL Raising Hands are also providing free meals to the needy people and contract labourers in goods yards with the help of Railway Police Force (RPF) and other railway employees by observing social distancing.
�The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) during the lockdown has so far provided over 16,000 free meals and other railway agencies have provided over 50,000 free meals to the needy people in the NFR zone, which were distributed by RPF personnel,� Chanda said.
Among the locations covered are New Bongaigaon, Azara, Changsari, Kamakhya, Guwahati, New Guwahati, Silchar, New Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri, Samsi, Manihari, Alipurduar and New Coochbehar station areas.
He added that NFR has produced more than 2,500 litres of hand sanitizers and over 66,000 reusable face masks for use by its on-duty staff so far.
�Masks are being made by staff who are working from their homes due to lockdown and hand sanitizers are being produced in various depots. Masks are being made by staff in various locations like Agartala, Alipurduar, Lumding, Silchar, Katihar, Tinsukia and Rangiya,� Chanda said.
�To ensure safety of the staff and boost their morale, we have ensured that masks and hand sanitizers are made available to all the staff coming on duty. These are also being ensured for contract labourers. Soap, water and washing facilities are being provided at all workplaces,� Chanda added.
