Kolkata: The South 24-Parganas district administration has set up special camps for migrant labourers amid the ongoing three-week-long lockdown.
The 'Hunger Heroes' (volunteering NGOs) have also come forward to help the destitute, elderly persons, physically challenged and people living on the road at various blocks of South 24-Parganas.
"The district administration is helping the migrant labourers, destitute and helpless people in the district during this crisis period. Measures have been taken to feed the hunger in all the Blocks and GPs by setting up a community kitchen, distributing relief materials and sheltering them. We have set up 71 camps for migrant labourers. About 22 NGOs have also have started relief camps for them. About 8,000 migrant labourers of different states and districts are separately given relief and shelter by the district administration," said Dr P Ulaganathan, district magistrate of South 24-Parganas.
According to sources, more than 25, 000 helpless people are being given food and shelters in the district other than those done by police. Many of the NGOs involved in Ganga Sagar are providing health service, medicine and aid the senior citizens and the differently-abled. NGOs like Bharat Seva Ashram are actively participating in this. The Ramakrishna ashrams at Noara, Nimpith and ISKON have come forward to distribute food to the people. Many of the doctors and teachers are also coming forward to help.
Prayas, a small initiative of South 24-Paragana District through CD volunteers of different blocks (nearly 300), has been started to extend critical help like the supply of life-saving drugs and any kind of emergency help to senior citizens, individuals with disabilities and for the critically ill people.
"They can WhatsApp or call the designated Person (blockwise) Headquarter CD control room/Block control room for assistance. This will be operational 24×7," said Ulaganathan.