NE NEWS SERVICE
MADURAI, MAY 13
Around 30 Naval personnel, ANOs, and men and women from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) from Madurai have joined the civil authorities in the fight against COVID-19, as they assist officials in ensuring food and other relief material distribution and also in ensuring social-distancing in crowded areas, a senior officer of the NCC said here on Tuesday.
Following necessary approvals from the Centre, the NCC has accepted requests from cadets, who have come forward to assist authorities during these challenging times, when the country is fighting COVID-19 with a two-month-long lockdown.
“Since NCC cadets are a trained force and their uniform would symbolise discipline, it would be easy for them to assist officials, who are already working hard,” Commander Dr VP Senthil, Commanding Officer, The 2 Tamilnadu Naval NCC Unit Madurai under Directorate of Tamilnadu Puducherry and Andaman Nicobar said.
According to Dr Senthil, “Over 1,000 dry ration and hygiene kits were distributed to the needy, physically-challenged and mentally retarded in Madurai in the presence of Madurai District Collector on Tuesday.
Padmanaban Gopalan, Managing Trustee, No Food Waste, a Coimbatore-based NGO and its Madurai Coordinator Shiva Kumar have arranged the relief materials donated by Seed India and Honeywell under their CSR initiative. This week-long event was held at Saurashtra Senior Secondary School.”
Each beneficiary was given a ration packet consisting of 10 Kg Ponni Rice, 5 Kg Atta, dhal, oil, sugar and salt packets. In addition, hygiene kit bags containing a handwash, a towel, detergent powder, soaps, Dettol, and garlic. The total cost of the kits was Rs 2,00,000, Dr Senthil added.
District Collector Dr Vinay appreciated both the No Food Waste as well as the Naval NCC Unit for initiating this noble service. He also awarded appreciation certificate and medals to the volunteers.
Earlier, Commander Dr VP Senthil briefed the NCC Cadets and the volunteers on the necessary safety precautions to be adopted while distributing the relief kits to the people.
