Needy get aid through hunger helpline

Kangra: Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati said on Friday a hunger helpline had been started in the district to provide succour to slum-dwellers, labourers and nomadic families. Some social organisations had been asked not to distribute ration to the needy directly and instead send goods for distribution to the hunger helpline. He said 31,201 labourers and other needy families living in slums had been provided 10 days ration comprising flour, rice, pulses, mustard oil, salt, etc. Three relief camps are being run where 110 people are getting free food and lodging arrangements There are 72 people at the Nagrota Bhagwan camp, 23 at the Kangra camp and 15 at a camp in Jwala Ji. OC

Demand to waive power, water bills

NURPUR: The demand to waive commercial and domestic electricity and water bills at least for two months during the curfew has started gaining momentum. Beopar mandals of Nurpur and Jassur have appealed to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to consider sympathetically this demand of the businessmen who were supposed to pay salaries during the lockdown to their employees and deposit other taxes to the state exchequer. Ashwani Suri and Rajiv ‘Raju’, presidents of Nurpur and Jassur beopar mandals, said while the government had directed them to pay salaries to their employees during the lockdown, it should waive power and water bills of all shopkeepers, vendors and also their workers. OC

50 apple cartons donated

Shimla: A horticulturist and BJP general secretary of Mahasu district Devender Shyam presented 50 boxes of apple to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here today for distribution to “corona warriors” and persons under quarantine in the district. The Chief Minister handed over these boxes to the Shimla Deputy Commissioner for further distribution. Lauding the gesture, the Chief Minister said this was an inspiration for others to come forward to lend a helping hand to the needy and motivate the corona warriors. TNS

Shepherds being medically screened

Bharmour: Shepherds from the Bharmour tribal area, who are on their way to hilly pastures, are being medically checked and provided sanitisers at the check posts at Durgethi, Lakay Wali Mata, Sunara and Luna by the local administration, and health and animal husbandry departments. Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Bharmour PP Singh said on Friday that the shepherds were travelling with their sheep and goats. Joint teams were conducting health screening of the shepherds at the check posts to prevent the spread of coronavirus. OC

35,000 masks given to the needy in Mandi

Mandi: The Mandi Saksharta Samiti has distributed 35,000 face masks free of cost to needy people in the district. Due to a high demand, medical stores were facing a shortage of face masks. This prompted many social organisations of the district to prepare face masks at homes. Hemat Raj Vaidhya, president of the samiti, said that masks were made of cotton cloth and are reusable. These were prepared by members of women self-help groups at home and till now the samiti had distributed 35,000 face masks among people free of cost. TNS

CPM seeks FIR against MP Ramswaroop

Shimla: The CPM has sought an FIR against BJP Mandi MP Ramswaroop Sharma and his entourage for travelling from Delhi to Jogindernagar, violating all norms and guidelines on Covid-19. In a statement issued here on Friday, CPM district secretary and former mayor Sanjay Chauhan said the BJP MP had jeopardised the health of people of the state by travelling with others in his car from Delhi to Jogindernagar without observing quarantine and social distancing norms. “His action as an MP amounted to grave irresponsible behaviour that can import infection from outside to state,” said Chauhan. The CPM alleged that BJP leaders were throwing all norms to the wind ever since the lockdown was imposed. “The police have booked the common man, including migrant labourers for violation of curfew and lockdown orders, but it is dithering on taking action against Ramswaroop Sharma,” said Chauhan. TNS