CRPF, other paramilitary forces helping people amid lockdown: MHA

Lauding the efforts of CRPF, who are engaged in relief efforts for Covid affected, Ministry of Home Affairs said on Friday that lakhs of personnels are at the forefront in helping out people in distress across the country through its national helpline "CRPF Madadgaar".

New Delhi:The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been at the forefront in helping out people from the national capital to Maoist-hit Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh in fight against COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday.

Lauding the efforts of CRPF, the Ministry said the largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPFs) with over three lakh personnel helped the people across the country through its national helpline "CRPF Madadgaar", a round the clock helpline for those in distress.

"Mail your queries and requests to crpfmadadgaar@gmail.com, madadgaar@crpf.gov.in, ring 14411 or SMS 7082814411," the helpline says.

The Ministry mentioned how one battalion of the CRPF ensured supply of one lakh kg rice in Raipur.

It also mentioned that other CAPFs -- including Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and National Security Guard (NSG) -- have been frontline warriors in the fight against the pandemic.

"They have assisted local administration in several areas, run quarantine centres, ensured supply of essentials and created awareness on Covid-19 in people. A total of 32 hospitals run by CAPFs are treating 1,900 patients," said the Ministry.

The Ministry said that the Director General of SSB has done commendable service and helped many Nepali citizens struck at the India-Nepal border.

The CISF has been instrumental in screening and early detection of Covid-19 cases at airports, along with the Airport Health Organisation, it said.

According to reports, a total of 103 units of CISF's fire wing are helping out local administration with sanitisation of areas. On eastern borders, over 300 villages have received basic items and medical checkups from BSF. It (BSF) has helped harvesting farmers along the 573 km long international border with Pakistan, ensured cattle feed in Meghalaya and increased patrolling to stop cross-border COVID-19 cases.

The ITBP officials established and operated India's first quarantine facility and adopted several orphanages and old age homes. ITBP has also helped with the procurement of produce in the remote areas of north-east.

By creating a Hubless Satellite Terminal, the 'Black Cat' commandos of NSG have strengthened the communication backbone in the times of this crisis, the MHA said.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has generated COVID-19 awareness in over 61,000 people and has also trained over 8,000 Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) volunteers to assist the force with operations, it said.

The Ministry also mentioned that its control rooms are continuously monitoring the availability and supply of essential goods.

Over 62 lakh tonnes of wheat and rice have been procured from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) by states and Railways has supplied over 13 lakh wagons of essential commodities through 26,900 rakes, it said.

IANS