Amid the coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide lockdown announced on March 25 in the country, the poor have suffered the most. First, the four-hour notice for the lockdown created panic for thousands of migrant workers who started a long walk to reach their villages and the poor who had no means to survive without any money and means.
However, the timely intervention of the government to provide food packets to the poor saved thousands from dying of starvation.
There are many who are still facing shortage of food supply but the local municipalities are going the extra mile to provide food packets to such families.
In one such report from Raipur in Rajasthan, affluent people are calling on the municipality's toll free number and asking for food packets for their families. Reason - they can't cook in the absence of house help or cook.
Raipur's municipality team has been facing such incidents over the past few days wherein 10-15 people who call them for food packets are from affluent families. They have a house, cars and all kinds of comforts.
According to a report by Rajasthan Patrika, when a team of workers visits the addresses given by such families, only then they get to know the tricks people are resorting to get some cooked food.
"The team however hands over the food packets but they also request them to not resort to such tactics since the food is meant for poor people and can't afford a day's meal. They also ask them to not call again," the report added.
Ashish Mishra, PR officer of Raipur smart city told Rajasthan Patrika that they have received reports of rich people ordering food packets on the pretext of being poor. Such families mostly say that they do not have food at home because the cook isn't coming to work due to the lockdown. Some say that their spouses are unwell and they do not get enough time to cook food.