Ranchi (Jharkhand): 25th March, 2020 was the day when a nationwide lockdown was implemented across the country following the Prime Minister's announcement. The move impacted the lives of millions, but it particularly increased the burden of those on the frontline of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, including police and medicos.
Arvind Kumar Singh, in-charge of Ranchi's Lalpur police station, is one such frontline warrior.
He has not been able to visit his home ever since the lockdown was implemented, even though his house lies just five kilometers away from the police station.
Singh, a police officer of the 1994 Daroga batch, has been on duty round the clock. He said that he has not seen his wife and children since March 25, as he and his team of officials have had to make sure that the norms of the lockdown are being adhererd to in Lalpur area of the state capital.
At the forefront of feeding the poor
During the lockdown, Arvind Singh and his team were among the first to extend help to those who were starving due to loss of employment.
Also read: COVID-19 LIVE: 50 frontline medical staff test positive
Singh, along with some social workers, started distributing food to the destitute in the city. There are always a good number of food packets lying in his jeep, and whenever he spots someone starving Singh distributes the packages.
Arvind makes violators watch informational video
Singh would also make those found wandering on the streets of the city amid the lockdown to watch an informational video on COVID-19, and the importance of practising physical distancing.
Arvind says that they are away from their family so that common people can stay safe. If people maintain social distance, then corona virus can be defeated.
Away from family
Arvind Kumar Singh has two children, who live in Argora area of Ranchi. His wife and both children want Arvind to come home at least once every day, but Arvind deliberately maintains distance from them considering that he is exposed to the virus while he is on duty. He has been staying at the police station for the past 10 days. His team is also staying with him at the police station. Arvind says that whenever they miss their children, they take some time away from work and talk to them on the phone, which gives them a lot of relief.
