Off-Duty CRPF Jawan Uses His Savings To Buy Ration For The Needy, Amid Lockdown In Assam

The coronavirus lockdown has upended the lives of thousands of poor people across the country. For these people whose daily wages have been cut off, staying home and maintain social distance is coming at a very painful cost. In this hour of need, some people are going out of their way to help those in need.

Take for instance, CRPF ASI Padmeswar Das, who is on leave at home in Assam. While he might not be deployed in the field at the moment, he is not off-duty as he busy preparing ration packets - that he purchased using his savings - for the poor in his village, who are the worst hit, by the coronavirus lockdown.

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The 48-year-old trooper, whose unit is deployed in south Kashmir's terrorist violence-hit Shopian district, is helping those affected by the lockdown in his tiny village of Chatanguri, about 76 km from the district headquarters of Morigaon district.

After witnessing how the poor were struggling amid lockdown, Mr Das decided to do his bit to help them. He spoke to his wife and mother and came up with an idea.

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He immediately rushed to the market and bought about 80 kg of rice and other dry ration. The next day, he and his family prepared over 50 packets containing 2 kg of rice, 1 kg potato, a small bottle of mustard oil, a packet of salt, onions and half kg pulses in each.

"I spent about Rs 8,000-10,000 for purchasing and packing these items," Mr Das said hesitantly, as he does not seem keen to share the cost of his noble deed.

ASI Padmeswar Das of 76 bn @crpfindia @JKZONECRPF @jammusector currently at home in Morigaon (Assam) due to Lockdown has been helping the needy in his village by voluntarily distributing food items to them out from his own savings
For any assistance call 14411. pic.twitter.com/xGcIiRJJfy

¡ª CRPF Madadgaar (@CRPFmadadgaar) April 12, 2020

"I donned my uniform as movement of civilians was barred due to the lockdown, used my gamocha (traditional Assamese scarf) as a mask and got a handcart to distribute the packets among the needy." When complimented that he was being a good samaritan, Mr Das said he only knew that "efforts of any kind always count."

"My colleagues in my delta company unit in Shopian and in the entire force are spread out to help in the fight against coronavirus and the lockdown affected people in whatever way they can. I am just one among them," Mr Das, who has a young son and daughter, said.

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His boss and Commandant of the 76th battalion of the force (based in Jammu), Neeraj Pandey, is all praise for his "tough and dedicated" colleague.

"I am proud of what Das did to help people despite being on official leave. He has gone beyond his call of duty but that is what our ethos and regimentation are all about," Neeraj Pandey said.

The Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI), who joined the CRPF as a constable in 1991, said he came home on March 3rd, and by the time he was supposed to leave the lockdown was imposed. He also mentioned that unit based in Kashmir valley also sent in a message asking him to stay put and not return.

"Had I been with my force, I would have had an army of my colleagues and officers to help the needy. Then I thought I can be one-man army," Mr Das told PTI

"My force stands for the motto 'service and loyalty' whether a jawan is alone or in a group," he said.

Unfazed by the continuing lockdown, Mr Das plans to replenish the stocks for those who need his help again.