Manipur: Imphal East district administration introduces food bank for poor and needy people

The initiative comes after the successful introduction of Home Delivery of essential commodities for Imphal East district due to the long Statewide lockdown in view of the threat of Coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East in a Public Notice issued dated 8th April 2020, welcomes any willing donor to donate any essential items at their disposal like dry ration ( rice, aata, maida, daal, edible oil, salt, potato, onions etc.), Milk, Biscuits, packages drinking water, and Non-food items like Hygiene and Sanitation related items like soaps, Hand wash, Household cleaning supplies, diapers, sanitary pads, sanitizers and medical aid items like Masks, Gloves, and PPEs etc. for further distribution to the poor and needy affected by shutdown due to threat of Covid-19.

Besides Mangminlian Vaiphei, AC to DC, Imphal East (Contact No. 8132817540) is appointed as Nodal Officer, Food Bank, who will be overall in charge of the collection and distribution of all the items, and Pinky Lukram, Branch Officer (Contact No.8787437529) and Dhananjoy Singh, Branch Officer (Contact No. 7005705260) shall assist the Nodal Officer.

The Food Bank at Imphal East DC Office Complex, Porompat conceived under the guidance of Dr. Rangitabali Waikhom, Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East District aims to ensure faster coordination and better logistics to supply food and essential items to the needy affected by the lockdown.

The dedicated Food Bank will provide immediate aid to the poor and needy, migrant workers, daily wage labourers, students, aged, persons, persons living with HIV/AIDS, transgender, drugs rehabilitation centres etc, said Mangminlian Vaiphei, Nodal Officer, Food Bank.

The Food Bank has distributed 372 kgs of Rice, 56 Kgs of Daal, 120 Kgs of Potatoes,36 Kgs of Salt, 15 bottles of Sanitizers and Face Masks to various sections of people such as People Living with HIV (PLHIV) of VIHAAN, AHANA and RUSA Organisations, persons at Drug Rehabilitation Centres like Nirvana Foundation, Reborn Drug De-Addiction Centre, Hope Ministry Rehabilitation Centre, Serenity Foundation Institute of Addiction and Alcoholism and poor and needy people from Yaingangpokpi, Gwaltabi, Thamnapokpi and Sanasabi till Saturday.

Many donors from various sections of society have responded positively by donating wholeheartedly various food items and essential commodities including Hygiene and Sanitation related items to the FOOD BANK on humanitarian ground namely 15Assam Rifles, R.K Nimai (IAS Rtd.), ICICI Bank (Porompat and Mantripukhri), Public Hospital and Research Institute, Hatta, UNACCO Team and MALEM Ema Export and Import Private Limited.

Many needy ones have applied through concerned Nodal Organisations to the Food Bank for help and they will be given the needed items after proper verifications, added Mangminlian Vaiphei, Nodal officer, Food Bank.

The DC also expressed hearty gratitude to those willing donors, and welcomes any donor in the future to help the Food Bank, Imphal East District and help end hunger of the poor and needy during this Statewide Lockdown.

Earlier the district administration in compliance with the directives of the State Government to keep members of the community safe at home and to lessen inconvenience faced by general public concerning supply of essential items amid lockdown has come up with Home Delivery of essential commodities to the doorsteps for the district.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)