RPF constables make and distribute free masks in Odisha

As Odisha is gearing up for the second round of lockdown, various departs of the government are working day in and out to protect the state and the people from the COVID 19 infection. After Missing Shakti contributed 6 million masks, the constables of Railway Protection Force (RPF) have taken up the task to stitch masks for their colleagues and the underprivileged who can’t afford it. Mamata Bhoi and Sridhar Barik, two RPF constables, are stitching over 50 masks a day, the cloth for which has been procured by their seniors from Cuttack. “We started stitching masks about a week back and have stitched 500 so far,” said Bhoi.

The RPF personnel are performing their duties to keep the station, though the passenger train services have been suspended, said one of the RPF officials. the officials further added that, they too need masks to be safe and those being stitched will be distributed among them. “There are about 900 RPF personnel working under Khurda Road Division. “After distribution among the personnel, masks will be given to among slum dwellers staying near the railway station here,” a official informed.

The department also plans to grant masks to Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deployed at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA). On 15th April, the RPF officers distributed about 1,000 masks at Bisheswar Colony in Bhubaneswar.