Rail PSU, Indian Railways Catering &Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has so far distributed about 102,937 meals to the poor and the needy from March 28 onwards.
It has roped in the services of Railway Protection Force (RPF), other government departments and NGOs in this endeavour.
The meals were prepared at IRCTC kitchens in New Delhi, Bangalore, Hubli, Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad, Bhusaval, Howrah, Patna, Gaya, Ranchi, Katihar, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Jn, Balasore, Vijayawada, Khurda Road , Katpadi, Tiruchirapalli, Dhanbad, Guwahati and Samastipur.
Starting with 2700 meals on 28th March, IRCTC has prepared and distributed 11530 meals on 29th March, 20487 meals on 30th, 30850 meals on 31st March and 37370 meals today at 23 locations.
Indian Railways (IR) is providing bulk cooked food with paper plates for lunch and food packets for dinner to needy people through base kitchens of IRCTC with the help of RPF, GRP, commercial departments of Zones, State Governments and NGOs.
While delivering the food to needy persons, social distancing and hygiene is being observed. GMs/DRMs of concerned Zone and division are also in continuous touch with IRCTC officials to enhance the outreach of these efforts of IRCTC even beyond the station vicinity in areas surrounding the railway stations.
The RPF had delivered over 95000 meals to the poor until March 31,2020.
IR is gearing up to meet any higher demand to provide food to the needy in the times of lock down by maintaining adequate stocks of food grains and other raw material.