KORAON-GROWN RICE TO FEED VISITORS AT HARIDWAR KUMBH

PRAYAGRAJ : Sangam city-based Om Namah Shivaya, one of the most prominent organizations running ‘Ann Ksherta’ (community feeding areas) in Magh and Kumbh Melas of Prayagraj would be feeding lakhs of devotees during the upcoming Kumbh-2021 at Haridwar (Uttarakhand).

The organisation has already started collecting rice at its centers in Prayagraj. This time the bulk of the collection would be from the rice locally grown in Koraon belt of the Prayagraj.

The head of the organisation, known simply as Gurudev, said in view of the corona infection, 5000 volunteers of the organisation would be deployed for the task of feeding people at Haridwar Kumbh.

At Haridwar, the organisation would not only just run the ‘Ann Kshetra’ at one site of the Kumbh Mela area but would also set up feeding areas at the entry point of the fair area and in other sectors of the tent city that would run on a 24-hour basis.

For this, storage of food grains has already started from areas like Koraon and Shankargarh regions which are known to produce best quality of rice in the district.

Om Namah Shivaya organisation had operated the largest ‘Ann Kshetra’ in Prayagraj during the Covid-19 induced lockdown when a large number of migrant labourers and their family members were provided with food.

This was done following a request from the district administration.

The organisation had served people at eight police station areas of the city, including Kydganj, Gaughat, Alopibagh, Sangam and Jhunsi besides others during the lockdown wherein volunteers had served people since morning till late night. At the same time, food was delivered to houses of people who requested their help on phone as well. The helpline number that was given was also linked to district administration so that all the needy could be attended.

Apart from Prayagraj, food was also distributed in three other districts of the state by the organisation.