NEW DELHI, Mar 31:
The Union Home Ministry has granted a special Rs 10-crore fund to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), enabling it undertake relief works for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.
The money, as per a March 30 home ministry order, accessed by PTI, is meant “to procure COVID-19 preventive items.”
Officials said a proposal to carry out relief works and providing essential commodities to those displaced or affected by the ongoing lockdown in view of the viral disease outbreak was first made by the paramilitary force on March 25 after which the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) granted the sanction.
The sanction for financial year 2019-20 has been made under the ‘civic action programme’ head to the country’s largest CAPF that has about 3.25 lakh personnel in its ranks.
CRPF Director General A P Maheshwari told PTI that the fund will be utilised to procure protective masks, sanitisers, food items and other essentials required by the people.
“All the CRPF formations in the country have been asked to step up their action and identify the population and areas in their vicinity who need help.”
“The force is on a mission mode to help the citizens of the country in these challenging times,” the CRPF chief said.
Maheshwari added that the force has received the Rs 10 crore fund from the MHA and this money will be used effectively to deal with the situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak.
The force has also scaled up its Kashmir-based helpline called ‘madadgaar’ to make it services available to the distressed and needy across the country.
A senior official said staffers and family members of other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have also approached the helpline and are being assisted for delivery of essential items and dissemination of information.
“We have increased the manpower of the helpline and are further bolstering its capabilities,” Maheshwari said. (PTI)
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