Maduravoyal policemen, kin in TP Chathiram ‘cook up’ a caring story

Sparing a thought for them, Maduravoyal police personnel, who have been busy on combating COVID-19 duty like others, came up with a unique idea to help both. They have temporarily hired about five cooks and have been preparing food to feed over 250 struggling people in the locality.

“We have space in front of the station and we buy all ingredients by pitching in from our pockets as well through help from well-wishers. The cooks make both breakfast and lunch, which is taken and served to those who need them,” said inspector Radhakrishnan.

This kind gesture has been going on for about 12 days now. Initially, police personnel carried the food in patrol vehicles to serve. But after people came to know that food is prepared on the station premises, most of them turn up at the station for both breakfast and lunch. A shamina has been set up where people can sit and eat, while the remaining food is distributed. The station also has a poster at the entrance inviting people to call the station over phone in case if they are in need of food.

“We have been making pongal, kichadi and idlies for breakfast. For lunch, we make meals with sambar and rasam and alternate it with variety rice items on certain days,” the Inspector said.

On a lighter vein, he noted that the migrant workers are a little upset that they are unable to get chappathis. But nevertheless, we are checking on its feasibility, he added.

Similarly, residents of TP Chathiram police quarters make food for 200 persons every day. It’s just not the police personnel who are involved but even their families. They are keen on doing their part to reach out to those aggrieved by the pandemic crisis.

The residents have started cooking food for about 200 people daily. Head Constable Venkateshwara Rao of Vepery Police Station, who has been coordinating the efforts, said about 15 families are involved in cooking the food. “There is a team comprising Prabakaran, Nagaraj, Kuppuswamy, Ganesan, Kishore, Selvarasu, Murugesan, Velu, Vetriselvan, Raja and Rajmohan. All their family members cut the vegetables, prepare the food and nicely pack them after which the youth from the quarters visit different areas to distribute the food packets,” said Venkateshwara Rao.

Interestingly, college and school students from the quarters, are part of the football and badminton clubs founded by the Head Constable with the support of his friends in order to keep the children’s attention to sports and other societal activities.