NF Railway provides free meals, masks to poor during nationwide lockdown

GUWAHATI: The Indian Railways is making all out efforts to supplement the health care initiatives of the Government of India. In this direction Indian Railways is producing masks and hand sanitizer in-house in its all Zonal Railways, Production Units and PSUs. As these items are of great necessity during the current crucial period. This is in addition to the various other measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Moreover, humanitarian efforts of Indian Railways are also continuing at various locations including NFR. NFRWWO (N. F. Railway Women’s Welfare Organization) also produced and distributed 5,700 masks and provided meals to 500 needy persons. Various other NGOs such as Khalsa Center - North East, and NECPL Raising Hands etc are also providing free meals to needy people and contract labourers in goods yards with the help of RPF/Railway employees by observing social distancing.

Till yesterday IRCTC provided 15524 free meals and other agencies provided about 48519 free meals to needy people in NFR area, which were distributed by RPF. Yesterday, IRCTC in NFR provided 1,000 meals to needy people which were distributed by RPF in Katihar and Lumding division. While various other organizations / NGOs also provided meals to more than 2541 persons at places like New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri, Samsi, Manihari, Alipurduar, New Coochbehar, New Bongaigaon, Azara, Changsari, Kamakhya, Guwahati, New Guwahati, Silchar, New Tinsukia and Dibrugarh station areas. While delivering the food to needy persons, social distancing and hygiene is being strictly observed to minimise the chance COVID-19 contamination. Throughout Indian Railways more than 1564150 free meals were provided till Tuesday.

NFR also produced more than 2500 liters of hand sanitizer and nearly 66,000 reusable face masks for use by its on-duty staff till yesterday. Masks are being made by staff who are working from their respective home due to lockdown and hand sanitizer are being produced in various depot. Masks are being made by staff in various locations like Agartala, Alipurduar, Lumding, Silchar, Katihar, Tinsukia, Rangiya etc. Till 14th April 2020 Indian Railways has in house produced total 1059869 nos. of Reusable Face Masks and 1,13,030 liters of hand sanitizer in all its Zonal Railways and Production Units.

Operation and maintenance staffs of NFR are working round the clock, since freight and parcel train operations of Indian Railways are running 24 X 7 to maintain supplies of essentials items and other goods throughout the nation.

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