While the entire country is in a heightened sense of paranoia due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases, the country has in the meantime been kept under 21 days of lockdown to stave off the disaster from overwhelming the country. At this critical juncture, we have witnessed the police and doctors being the lifesavers. The former is keeping a close watch over citizens’ movements to ensure the lockdown is successfully implemented, while the latter is ready to provide the best medical care to suspect patients.
The State Government has directed the Maharashtra Police to ensure that each area is well taken care of, peace and tranquillity is maintained, and violators are given a stern warning. They have appealed to the citizens to support the government, work alongside them and fight this menace together. The police have indeed stepped up to the plate. They are continuously requesting the public to not panic, to stay indoors, and in some areas, have gone out of their way to provide essential facilities to the local citizens.
Despite the extra mile the police have undertaken to maintain anything from going out of hand, we have witnessed people who have been defying the order, endangering the lives of others in the process. The Maharashtra State Police have adopted a unique way of handling these daredevils by giving them a taste of the baton (now famously known as prasad).
Recently, the Traffic Police Department launched a helpline number through which essential service providers can get the help they require to operate smoothly without any hurdle. Essential services like medical assistance, ambulance, essential commodities, banks and other essential services were exempted from the lockdown and offered easy and smooth movement so that citizens are not being deprived of their immediate needs.
Days after this special helpline by the Mumbai Traffic Police was launched, they were flooded with calls from regular motorists as well as those supplying essential goods. The ‘Corona Traffic Helpline’ which started on March 24, has received close to 500+ calls, with police officials addressing the woes of the people.
A senior traffic police official assured that if vehicles engaged in the transportation of essential commodities or provision of essential services face any hurdle, they can contact the helpline at 022-24937747 and 022-24937755. Help will be immediately meted to them. It is heartening to note that the swift response of the Traffic Police to set up a helpline number, minutes after the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi announced the 21-day lockdown has allayed the fear of the citizens.
“At such a time, it is crucial to come up with a solution, wherein citizens requiring medical assistance or emergency movement can contact us hassle-free. In just three days, we have received over 500 distress calls, which were mainly related to transporting medicines and groceries. People were assured that they could move out of the house to buy essentials, but not more than that, and it should be a point-to-point service,” said an official.
Moreover, the Mumbai Police announced that people need not have to step out of their homes to lodge complaints or grievances, as police teams will arrive at their doorsteps during the COVID-19 lockdown. The police are also coordinating with e-commerce platforms to ensure that the supply of essential commodities is not hit.
Good Samaritans
As senior citizens in Mumbai isolate alone with no help, good samaritans are coming out of their homes to lend a helping hand, keeping alive the spirit of Mumbai.
With India under a 21-day lockdown, many volunteers are helping senior citizens who are stuck at home by delivering essentials at their doorstep. Volunteers in some parts of Mumbai are also distributing tea and snacks to security guards in their locality.
Around 200 volunteers have been deployed by an NGO in Mumbai to reach out to people. Members of the Round Table India have divided Mumbai into different zones and circulating awareness messages on social media. They have zeroed in on buildings having senior citizens living on their own. They then make sure that essential commodities reach them. Some of the volunteers have been preparing food and handing rations for those who are incapable of meeting their own needs.
The Group says they are getting calls from foreign countries as well. Children living abroad are calling the NGO to provide food for their parents who are on their own in Mumbai. As these calls and messages pour in, the information is then sent to groups and representatives in the respective areas to do the needful.
Municipal Bodies
Over 20 daily wage labourers and homeless people were stranded at the Kalyan Railway Station and bus depot. After they were made aware of the situation, KDMC (Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation) and the police department provided the stranded people with food and water. They had reportedly been without food or water for several days. With the help of social organisations, KDMC and the police arranged for a shelter for them until after the lockdown. They are now lodged at a dharmashala in Kalyan and provided necessities and medical care, KDMC Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi said.
KDMC Municipal Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi said, “We came to know of the plight of the stranded daily wage workers and the homeless, and with the help of Rajasthan Jain Sabha some other organisations, we arranged food and shelter for them. Several other social organisations have also joined us to help them. Around 700 packets of food have been distributed since the lockdown.”
Other initiatives like setting up a helpline for senior citizens for doorstep delivery during the lockdown was started by the Municipal Body, informs an MC official.
Meanwhile, the Kalyan Traffic Police has distributed food packets to the homeless and beggars near the Kalyan Station area. The beneficiaries are seen practising social distancing as they queue for food.
Our Correspondent
