UP: Beneficiaries use umbrellas outside PDS shop to maintain social distancing in UP's Prayagraj

PRAYAGRAJ: Don’t be surprised if you witness a queue of open umbrellas along the Rajapur road. These umbrellas are not for sale. In fact, the beneficiaries arriving to take ration from a PDS shop bring umbrellas and keep them in a queue in order to maintain social distancing.
On Friday, the queue of open umbrellas was more than a kilometre long and the passersby were curious to see it. They then came to know that the beneficiaries have been asked to bring their umbrellas in order to maintain social distancing while waiting for their turn to get ration.
The initiative was taken by kotedar Wasim Ahmad who felt that use of umbrellas was the best option to make people follow social distancing outside PDS shops.
Wasim told TOI, “This would also save the beneficiaries from heat and rain, apart from ensuring social distancing.”
“During unlock 2.0 when, the PDS shops were opened to distribute wheat and rice among beneficiaries. It was the second time on Friday when a large number of beneficiaries arrived to take free ration under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna,” he added.
He also recalled that when he asked beneficiaries to come along with umbrellas, they were initially reluctant, but eventually understood the dire need of social distancing, and began following the concept.
Wasim also ensures that every beneficiary is wearing mask when they arrive to take ration.