Stitching masks to address shortage

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 25

As the government imposed a curfew to combat the spread of Covid-19, many individuals, social groups and religious organisations have come forward to help residents who are in a state of panic and people at forefront.

Parshotam Kumar, a lab assistant at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, is daily making nearly 50 cloth masks in his free time. So far, he has handed over 500 masks to the hospital management.

Another local resident Gaurav Ghai and his family members too have made around 2,000 masks and distributed these among people in need.

A video went viral in which the Amritsar rural police team could be seen purchasing the whole stock of vegetables from an elderly vendor and later selling it on their own. Policemen at a naka near the entrance of Cantonment area from GNDU side were also seen distributing cloth masks among riders.

The act of the Amritsar Rural cops who purchased the vegetables is being lauded by many, including Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who had also shared a video of the same.

Even social and religious organisations have come forward to provide meals to the policemen on duty at various check points.

Members of a local group also distributed water bottles to cops standing guard on various roads. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has also started providing langar to cops on duty. It has deputed special vehicles that are reaching out to cops at all check points.

Laal Singh, Manager, Gurdwara Chehharta Sahib, said: “In this time of crisis, it is the duty of social and religious organisations to help the administration in fighting the disease. We are doing our bit by providing meals to cops who are on duty.” He said gurdwaras would welcome all people who face any problem.