Buy veggies in a bucket, Vadodara cops advise people

Jay Pachchigar | TNN | Updated: Apr 27, 2020, 07:37 IST

Anand saw many citizens crowding vegetable vendors in the locality

VADODARA: “When you go to buy vegetables, don’t take a bag. Carry a bucket instead.” — A video of an in-charge inspector of Warasia police station, S S Anand, is doing the rounds on social media platofrms wherein he is advising people on how to buy vegetables in a bucket and then how they should wash it after they reach home.
In the fight against coronavirus, Vadodara cops are not only providing food and kits to needy people, but are also ensuring all-round safety of the citizens during lockdown. In a first of its kind advice, Anand was seen talking to the citizens in Meera Flats locality of Warasia on the public announcement system, which somebody recorded and uploaded the video on social media.
Cops are trying to sensitize people on how to buy vegetables from vendors particularly after Ahmedabad and Surat vegetable vendors were tested Covid-19 positive.
In the video, Anand is heard telling people: “Carry buckets when you go out to buy vegetables and ask the vendor to drop these directly in the bucket. Don’t touch anything and after you reach home, fill the bucket with water mixed with two spoons of baking soda and salt. Soak the vegetables in it for 10 minutes at least before washing or else there is a possibility of the virus entering your home!”
After Anand’s video became viral, Vadodara city police created a poster for awareness with similar instructions and shared it on its Facebook page on Wednesday.
“One day, my wife and I were deliberating about how to deal with this situation. She suddenly hit upon the bucket idea. My sister who is a doctor in Ahmedabad advised us to wash the vegetables with baking soda and salt,” said Anand, while talking to TOI.
A couple of days ago while patrolling, Anand saw many citizens crowding vegetable vendors in the locality. He dispersed them then, but later made the announcement for their awareness. In the video, Anand is heard saying that people criticize police for controlling the vegetable vendors. “We are only doing it for you. There is nothing wrong if for a few days you do not eat vegetables and survive on pulses only,” he was heard appealing to the people.