HOSPET JN

South Western Railway continues to provide hot cooked food for lunch to needy people through base kitchens of IRCTC with the help of Railway Protection Force, departments of Headquarters, Divisions and NGOs.So far 78,041 meals prepared at IRCTC base kitchens of Bengaluru and Hubballi and 1,47,897 meals prepared by Zonal HQ Departments, Divisionshave been distributed to the poor and needy workers especially the daily wage and migrant workers who are affected o­naccount of the lockdown announced to prevent spread ofCovid-19.

GM/South Western Railwayand DRM/Hubballi ,Bengaluru & MysuruDivisionsare striving to enhance the outreach ofwelfare meals to cater to the food requirements of needy people in areas surrounding the railway stations with the help of RPF, District Administrations and NGOs working with Railway Organisation.While delivering the food to needy persons, social distancing and hygiene is being strictly followed.

As directed by Shri Suresh Angadi, Hon’ble MoSR, Railways has taken up the social responsibility of providing food to the needy in addition to running time tabled parcel trains and freight trains so that essential commodities and medicines reach all parts of the nation.

Bengaluru division of SWR has taken the lead in providing food to the needy migrant workers by serving 1, 63,336 meals of which 54,580 meals were prepared by IRCTC. Over Bengaluru Division packed meals were distributed at Bengaluru, Yeshvantpur, Bangaluru Cantt, Baiyappanahalli, Bangarpet, Hidupur, Dharmapuri, Mandya, Tumkur,Krishanarajapuram, Yalhanka, Whitefield and Devanagonthi.

Hubballi division has provided meals for 51,969 migrant workers near Railway station over the zone. Food packets were distributed at Hubballi, Belagavi, Ballari, Hospet, Gadag, Vasco-da-gama, Vijayapur,and Bagalkot.

Over Mysuru Division 2,855 food packets were distributed to needy at Mysuru, Ashokapuram, Krishnarajanagara, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Arasikere, Birur, Shivamogga town, Bhadravati, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Harihar, and Haveri. Railway protection Personnel are also involved in a big way in distributing of food to the needy.

In addition to serving cooked food to the needy, SWR is also providing grocery kits containing Rice, Wheat flour, Toor dal, Sooji, Veg oil, Bath soap, Detergent, Face mask etc., to thelicensed Porters/contract workers/ labourers at goods sheds at Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, Belagavi , Bagalkot, Gadag, Desurand Bellari. 

Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, GM/SWR, informed that SWR is committed to continue its battle against COVID-19 and tide over this crisis.He informed that Railway is gearing up to meet any higher demand to provide food to needy and ready for any contingency with adequate stocks of food grains and other raw material.Further Railway staff and their families are strictly following the Lockdown and staff working for essential services are maintaining social distancing and being provided with face masks and sanitizer to protect them from Covid-19 virus.