Justin D'Silva/Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Apr 1: The zilla panchayat here, in association with the district administration and revenue department has taken up initiatives to provide food rations to the needy from the district who do not possess ration cards. The state government has been providing two months ration to ration card holders but people who are not having ration cards had to struggle for their daily bread.

A few days ago, thousands of migrant labourers of Northern Karnataka working in Udupi district had decided to return to their native districts for not being able to have proper food for themselves in Udupi due to the non-availability of daily wage. But they were not allowed to cross the district border and had to return to Udupi. Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat with the help of generous donors arranged for the food grains of these families. Still, there were many other people who were left out in some part of the district.

The district administration has now decided to provide food to these vulnerable class. Revenue department is playing a major role in this regard. “Twenty-five nodal officers have been appointed for 158 gram panchayats who will identify these people and make arrangements for their groceries. We are working on this for last one week. Many generous donors have also come forward to help us in this process,” said Preethi Gehlot, CEO of the zilla panchayat Udupi.

Speaking to Daijiworld.com, she said, “All the donors have to inform us about their willingness to donate for this good cause though their respective gram panchayat PDO's. Many department heads have been appointed as nodal officers. They will lead their respective areas. Gram panchayat has the list of poor people residing in their respective areas. This will help is in identifying them easily,” she added.

Essential food grains like rice and other items in sufficient quantities will be provided to the deserving families. Many other private NGO and other donors are also donating to poor in these hard times. So the administration is going through the checking processes and ensures that there should not be any overlap in this process. Many gram panchayat members and individuals have already approached the administration to help in this good cause.

Departments like fisheries, education, women and child welfare and others are actively participating in this good cause. People are also approaching district administration and are seeking help from them.

For more information and help can contact following numbers: 9480878000 / 9480878001