E-Paper
MCG to distribute food at 42 relief centres only once a day
Gurugram:
Gurugram:
From Monday, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) will be distributing food at its 42 relief centres only once a day, instead of the current practice of two meals daily, said officials on Saturday. The officials also said that a survey will be initiated to identify the exact number of migrant workers in the city to ensure not a single needy person goes hungry.
As per the MCG officials, since the easing of restrictions in lockdown 3.0, a large number of migrant workers have returned to their native places and the demand for food packets has also reduced.
Till last month, MCG was distributing around 1.25 lakh meals twice a day -- one in the afternoon and another in the evening.
However, the officials said that the total takers for meals have now reduced to 75,000, a majority of who they alleged are locals who are consuming the food although they may not necessarily be requiring it.
“Since the last week, especially during the daytime, we have been receiving less number of takers at our relief centres and a lot of food is getting wasted. We thus realised that a large number of migrant workers have returned to their native places. Even the majority of those who have been turning up are not necessarily migrants or the underprivileged, instead they are locals looking for a free meal. Hence, taking all these into consideration, we have decided to distribute only one meal per day at the relief centres during the evening,” said Hariom Attri, joint commissioner, MCG.
Vivek Kalia, estate officer of Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) who is also the nodal officer for food distribution in the city during the coronavirus outbreak, said that a survey will be initiated to identify the exact number of migrant workers remaining in the city to ensure no person goes hungry. He said that depending on its result the next course of action would be decided.
“We are reviewing the situation of actual meals required per day by getting a survey done from our volunteers and official teams. We are also seeking feedback from the municipal councillors, social organisations, and civil society members for it. Accordingly, we will decide on the next step,” said Kalia.
Since March 30, MCG has been distributing food at 32 community centres and 10 night shelters to migrant workers, daily wage earners and the underprivileged.
