Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, May 28: Mangaluru city police commissioner N Shashi Kumar along with DCP (Law and Order) Hariram Shankar, DCP (Crime and Traffic) Vinay A Gaonkar distributed grocery kits to over 80 transgenders in the city on Friday, May 28.

The grocery kits were distributed on the premises of the police commissioner's office.

After distributing the kits police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said, "Police department along with various voluntary organizations has helped the underprivileged on 22 other instances through Samanvaya platform."

Samanvaya platform has responded to the needs of the impoverished by distributing food kits, groceries items, medicines along with helping them in securing beds at hospitals.

Samanvaya had launched a helpline number 9480802300 for NRIs (Non-Resident Indian) and Indian diaspora of Mangaluru origin in the event their relatives, friends staying in Dakshina Kannada needed any assistance in this pandemic. We also received a call from an NRI regarding the problem faced by transgender due to the pandemic. Following which we contacted a donor, Arun Vijayendra Bhat, and he agreed to distribute grocery kits to 80 transgenders."

The commissioner also appealed that those who are able to provide help should come forward in the current crisis.

The donor, Arun Bhat was also honoured during the occasion.

On behalf of transgenders, speaking to the media Arundathi said, "Police commissioner N Shashi Kumar has taken a good initiative to help the transgenders. Due to the pandemic situation in the country, it was getting difficult to lead a life." She further went on to request the government to help the transgenders amid the prevailing pandemic.