Coronavirus lockdown: Pune police feed over 9 lakh people

ST Correspondent
Sunday, 3 May 2020

The Social Policing Cell was formed on the suggestion of the Commissioner of Police Dr K Venkatesham. Additional Commissioner of Police Sanjay Shinde took the initiative to expand the social work of the police through this cell. 

Pune: The men in khaki are not only ensuring a strict lockdown while fighting the COVID-19 virus, but they are also playing a significant part easing the hardship of countless people.

The Pune City Police has facilitated drives that helped provide food to about nine lakh people that include people from different strata of the society, including migrant workers at shelter homes. 

The Social Policing Cell was formed on the suggestion of the Commissioner of Police Dr K Venkatesham. Additional Commissioner of Police Sanjay Shinde took the initiative to expand the social work of the police through this cell. 

Since March 22, hundreds of migrant workers, students and others have been stranded in the city -- some having lost their jobs, found it difficult to sustain life. Due to the closure of trains, buses and other private vehicles, most of the citizens remained stranded in different parts of the city. The police took the initiative and with the help of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) arranged for them to stay in the temporary shelter homes at municipality schools.

But the question of providing food for them had arisen. Police, with the help of 163 social organisations and NGOs, solved the problem.

According to Add CP Shinde, so far the police have provided food to over nine lakh people and distributed 54,000 ration kits, 42,000 masks and 35,000 sanitisers.

"Police are giving priority to protecting people from the coronavirus outbreak. In the line of duty, we are maintaining our social commitment through 'Social Policing Cell'. Police personnel to senior officers are all working with a sense of duty in this. Social organisations have been a great help”, Add CP Shinde said.

Statistics speak 

  • Labourers, homeless and poor people – 8.35 lakh  
  • Commercial Sex Workers – 17,630
  • Students – 17, 246 
  • Hospital patients and relatives – 16,708
  • Transgender members - 1050
  • Meals supplied till now – 8. 87 lakhs 
  • Organizations that help the police in food donation – 163
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