Daily wage earners run out of ration, seek help

Jalandhar, March 27

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Frantic calls are being made to the district administration by daily wage earners and the working class for help. Most are saying they have run out of money and ration amid the nationwide lockdown.

Every day, the Covid control room, set up in the Jalandhar District Administrative Complex (DAC), is flooded with such calls. The staff attending to their calls said they were getting a number of calls from the workers, who were out of jobs and had no money to feed their families.

After the lockdown, all industrial units, which are a source of livelihood for lakhs of people, closed down. This added to the woes of labourers, who were already facing a tough time making ends meet.

No work means no food and the labourers are now awaiting help. Though some NGOs have extended help, the number of such people is much higher.

One of the staff members at the DAC said once they received complaints, they informed about the needs of these people to various NGOs. Sandeep Kumar from Flying Udaan, an NGO, said he was getting many calls from people that they had nothing to eat.

District Food Supply Commissioner (DFSC) Narinder Singh said the needy were being identified and their requirements were being checked. “We will provide wheat flour, pulses, sugar and tea among other essentials to the needy,” he said. — TNS