Sitting amid the blackened remains of his home, 32-year-old Nikesh Gawali carefully broke open a half-melted plastic box with a screwdriver. His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but out of hope. “I’m trying to find my daughter Aarti’s gold earrings,” he said quietly, still focused on the box. “She’s just five. I got them made recently after months of labour work.” The plastic box, warped and blackened by heat, was one of the few things left from his two-room house on the outskirts of Dhamangaon village . All around him lay ash, broken tin sheets and charred wooden beams. The walls had cracked under the heat and the front room’s tin roof had caved in completely. What remained was a blackened debris all around - almost nothing to suggest a home once stood there. Nikesh earns his living as an agricultural labourer, like many in the village. Work is uncertain and depends on the season. Those earrings weren’t just jewellery - they were a small dream, a reward for his hard work,...
MAHARASHTRA police on Friday issued an advisory to all police units to issue travel passes to needy persons. The decision has come as a major relief to thousands of citizens who are stranded at places in the State after enforcement of lockdown from March 24. The order also directed police officials not to stop goods vehicles and ensure their smooth movement.
Special Inspector General of Police (Spl IGP), Milind Bharambe, issued the order after observing surge in demand for on-line passes at the office of Director General of Police (DGP). “Lockdown has been enforced in the State to contain the spread of novel coronavirus and movement of people has been barred during the lockdown period. Therefore, many persons are contacting office of DGP Maharashtra to get emergency passes for travel. It was observed that demand for such passes is increasing rapidly. Hence, the issue was discussed in the top level meeting and sorted out,” stated the order.
IGP Bharambe further ordered concerned Superintendent of Police (SPs) and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCPs) to issue travel passes to needy persons after verifying reasons cited in their application form.
“Only persons who wish to travel to another state, should contact the DGP office, Mumbai,” the order further stated. IGP Bharambe also directed police officials to do not stop goods vehicles and ensure their free movement in State.
A police official said that after enforcement of lockdown thousands of persons stuck at various districts as they were unaware of any such decision from the Government. As industries and private offices have been closed till April 14, these persons wanted to return home.
Another official said that the assistance extended by the police would help them tide over their difficulties. After getting the passes, it will be easy for the citizens for inter-district travel during emergency.
Comments
Post a Comment